SmartBirds
Prague Zoo has provided two young female Egyptian vultures to support efforts to restore the species’ population in Bulgaria. The two sisters were hatched from one of the zoo’s most experienced breeding pairs and will contribute to the long-term conservation programme for this globally endangered species.
After a journey of over 24 hours, the vultures arrived safely in Sofia, where they were met by a team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and transported to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre – Green Balkans. At the Centre, the birds underwent comprehensive veterinary examinations to ensure their readiness for adaptation to life in the wild. Following the medical checks, they were accommodated in a special aviary alongside other Egyptian vultures preparing for release.
Next week, the two vultures will be transported to the Eastern Rhodopes, where, together with four more Egyptian vultures raised at Green Balkans’ Rescue Centre, they will be placed in an adaptation aviary known as the “Egyptian Vulture School.” Over two months, the birds will undergo acclimatisation, learning to navigate their new environment, find food, and avoid threats—essential skills for their survival in the wild.
The Restoking programme for the Egyptian vulture population by releasing young birds hatched in zoos and rescue centres is part of the long-term efforts to save this critically endangered species. Every new bird released into the wild strengthens the hope for the species’ future in Bulgaria and the Balkans.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Sofia Zoo for their valuable assistance in transporting the young vultures from the Czech Republic to Bulgaria.
These activities are part of the Egyptian vulture recovery program in Bulgaria, implemented by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds in partnership with the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Center—Green Balkans and the European Endangered Species Program of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). In 2024, these initiatives will be implemented within the framework of the “From the Iron Curtain to Green Belt” project, which is funded by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme (ELSP).
