site.btaSeven Birds of Endangered Vulture Species Found Poisoned in Kotel Area

Six cinereous and one griffon vultures have been found dead in the Kotel area (Eastern Bulgaria), the Green Balkans nature conservation organization reported. According to conservationists, the actual number of victims may be even higher, as not all birds are equipped with transmitters.

Some of the cinereous vultures were provided by Spain as part of an international programme to reintroduce the globally endangered species in Bulgaria - efforts that have seen cinereous vultures back to the country after nearly 50 years of absence. The griffon vulture was donated by Germany's Allwetterzoo Munster. 

After initial signals from the transmitters of two birds on January 10 and their discovery dead a day later, subsequent searches in the area found more dead vultures. The case has been reported to the Kotel Police Department. Teams from the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre in Stara Zagora and the Environmental, Wildlife, and Animal Crimes Division of the National Police Directorate worked at the site, collecting evidence and compiling a report. Later, a team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds joined the effort with a specially trained dog for detecting poison.

According to preliminary data, poisoned bait containing parts of sheep and horse carcasses was found in the area. The birds' bodies were transported to Stara Zagora, where an autopsy will be performed with the participation of experts from Trakia University to determine the exact cause of death and the type of illegal substance used.

Green Balkans recalls that the incident with the poisoned birds is the second such incident in the area since 2022, when four black vultures were poisoned. "We will do everything in our power to ensure that the perpetrator receives an effective sentence this time," said Ivelin Ivanov, head of the black vulture reintroduction project at Green Balkans.

The use of poison in the wild is a crime under the Penal Code and poses a serious danger to both nature and people.