After many years of tireless efforts, the Green Balkans breeding unit in Bulgaria has now two thriving pairs and in December 2024 it received its long-awaited third Bearded Vulture pair.| Vulture Conservation Foundation
There’s a new vulture in town! Meet Univers, the latest Bearded Vulture (Gypeatus Barbatus) chick to join the wild cliffs of the Grands Causses as part of the LIFE GypAct project. On 10 June 2025, this young male made the journey from sunny Andalusia, Spain, to southern France—becoming the third and final release of the season in the region.| Vulture Conservation Foundation
The dream to restore the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) to its former distribution grounds in Spain and Europe is one step closer to becoming a reality with the expansion of the Andalusian reintroduction project to the Sierra Nevada National Park.| Vulture Conservation Foundation
Esperanza, the first Bearded Vulture wild-hatched chick in Andalusia since the reintroduction programme, built her first nest.| Vulture Conservation Foundation
On the rugged cliffs of the Sierra Nevada, three young Bearded Vultures—Poqueira, Polarda, and Aznaitín—stretch their wings in the Andalusian sun. Recently released into the wild, these three females mark a significant milestone—the 29th year since the Bearded Vulture reintroduction programme in Andalusia started. Their names, chosen from iconic natural landmarks in Granada, Almería and Jaén, reflect a deepening connection between the species and the Andalusian landscape—a bond bu...| Vulture Conservation Foundation
Among the many remarkable Bearded Vulture pairs in our captive-breeding network, one couple stands out—not just for their experience, but for their unwavering bond: Joseph and Marie Antoinette. Their story is one of resilience, tenderness, and defying the odds, unfolding within the walls of the Vallcalent Specialized Breeding Centre in Spain.| Vulture Conservation Foundation
On May 17, 2025, the ancient Tuida Fortress in Sliven bore witness to a historic moment for Bulgarian biodiversity: the first-ever release of Bearded Vultures into the wild in Bulgaria. This long-awaited milestone marked the species’ symbolic and physical return to the Bulgarian skies, more than five decades after their disappearance. The event, held as part of the Bearded Vulture LIFE project, was the result of tireless conservation efforts spanning nearly 30 years.| Vulture Conservation Foundation
This year, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Specialised Bearded Vulture Breeding Unit at Vallcalent, we’re taking a moment to honour the extraordinary birds—and the dedicated caretakers—who make this pioneering centre what it is. Few stories better capture the spirit of resilience and hope than that of Secundino and Torla, two Pyrenean Bearded Vultures (Gypeatus Barbatus) who defied the odds to become parents.| Vulture Conservation Foundation
