PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The LIFE EV Safe Return project targets the Balkan population of the Egyptian Vulture, one of Europe’s two globally most endangered raptors. After decades of decline towards extinction, this bridging population between Western European and Asian populations has stabilised at a critically low level (49 pairs). The project is an urgent effort to boost recovery through a flyway-wide, science-based programme combining threat reduction, population reinforcement, and community stewardship. The project actions cover 100% of the species breeding range in the Balkans and extend along the flyway to key mortality hot-spot areas in Türkiye, Ethiopia, Chad, and Nigeria: (1) Threat reduction: risk-based interventions at mortality hotspots, including field patrols, training of enforcement and judicial authorities, rapid response to poisoning and persecution cases, behaviour change with high-risk groups, and retrofitting hazardous power lines. (2) Restocking: an IUCN-aligned, multi-site reinforcement programme using the innovative and successfully tested delayed-release method at three sites in Bulgaria and Greece too boost recovery. At least 40 captive-bred or rehabilitated juveniles will be released and fitted with GPS/GSM tags to evaluate survival, recruitment, and demographic impact. (3) Community stewardship: training and engaging local stakeholders — livestock breeders, hunters, wardens, veterinarians, teachers, municipal staff and citizen “custodians” — to embed vulture-safe practices and foster long-term impact, pride, and recognition among local people. Building on a decade of research and prior conservation results, the project will deliver at least a 20% population increase and set conditions for further growth, minimising extinction risk. It directly aligns with LIFE Nature & Biodiversity programme by improving the status of an Annex I species, strengthening Natura 2000 functionality and connectivity, and contributing to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
