site.btaOne of Three Bearded Vultures Released in SE Bulgaria in May Dies of Infection

One of the two bearded vultures donated by Czechia's Ostrava Zoo and released near Sliven in May, has died, BTA learned from Elena Stoeva, Management Board head of the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre of Green Balkans in Stara Zagora (Southeastern Bulgaria). The bird, named LifeBG, was one out of three bearded vultures released into the wild for the first time this spring. 

The birds were placed in artificial nests under constant video surveillance to ensure timely first aid. After The Centre's team noticed that LifeBG had low energy and refused to eat, the male vulture was immediately transported to the Centre where it was determined he had lost weight. Despite the strengthening therapy, the bird died the following morning.

According to the preliminary data from the autopsy, the most likely cause of death is infection, which was too much for the bird's organism weakened by the adaptation process and the continuous rain showers and storms in the area. Additional histological and lab studies will be conducted to determine the final cause of death.

Work on the reintroduction of the bearded vulture in Bulgaria continues, the Green Balkans environmental organization said. Their project is based on a well-established methodology  that has led to the successful restoration of Europe's most endangered vulture species in other parts of the continent.

Stoeva told BTA that the release of the three bearded vultures in May was a cause for celebration, because it was the result of 30 years of work. In her words, the Green Balkans team knew that success was not guaranteed; on the contrary, the restoration of rare species is a complex process.

Birds who have hatched and grown in controlled conditions at zoos face the challenges of the natural environment, she explained. Their survival to a large extend depends on natural selection. Some manage to adapt, while others may be affected by anthropogenic factors, such as getting shot, poisoned or electrocuted. The released birds are equipped with satellite transmitters for distance surveillance, but to guarantee they become truly wild, they cannot be provided with direct care.

The next step is the release of new young birds, the number of which depends on how many vultures have been bred in zoos and breeding centres. The three released in May were male vultures, and now an attempt will be made to release a female. The bearded vulture is a bird of prey that reaches breeding age as late as eight or nine years. The chance of survival given all natural and anthropogenic factors is slim, Stoeva noted. Despite the difficulties, Green Balkans will continue to release new birds and care for them from a distance, because that is the path to the species' restoration in the wild, she added.