Prague Zoo is one of those zoos that have joined the project. After long preparation, young vultures were set free on Sunday 13th June. The female vulture Kira from Prague Zoo had left Prague for the Goldau Zoo, Switzerland, where she had been awaited by the local male vulture and another one from the Spanish breeding centre - Centre de Fauna Vallcalent.
Cosmetic adjustments for identification purposes
The young vultures first spent some time in an aviary in Goldau to adapt to the local environment. “After the transportation, the young ones were placed into a joint aviary in the zoo to get used to each other and to the climate.” The following day we bleached certain wing and elbow feathers and gave them rings so that we can identify them later,” said Antonín Vaidl, the curator of the birds from Prague Zoo.
Big Celebration
The release of the bearded vultures was held following the recommendation of the birds breeding coordinator Dr. Hanse Frey in the area of Calfeisenthal in the south-east of Switzerland. Breeders, conservationists and enthusiasts from the CR, Spain, Austria, Germany and Switzerland put these three young vultures together and placed them in a nest on a rim at the altitude of 2000 m.
“Young bearded vultures are placed in artificial nests in couples or in groups of three so that they have better chances to socialize,” explained Antonín Vaidl.
Swiss National Park employees carried vultures to the mountains
“To get to the artificial nest, we had to undergo a several-hour long climb into the mountains in unfavourable weather conditions. The young vultures were carried by the employees of the Swiss National Park in transportation boxes. They were placed in their nest hidden in the rock face at 13:45. Right after that they fed on pieces of rabbit,” said Antonín Vaidl.
Ornithologists instead of parents
After their placement the young vultures stay in the nest for about a month before they are fully able to fly. Terrain workers bring them food and watch them 24 hours a day. When they have left the nest, they will still be monitored. According to the data by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are about 1000 to 10 000 bearded vultures living in nature. The project of reintroduction of young bearded vultures into nature in the Alps has been occurring since 1978 and it significantly contributes to the extension of the breeding base.
The first couples that had been released over the last few years already have first offspring. This year, a total number of 14 young bearded vultures will be released into nature – not only in Switzerland but also in France, Austria and Italy.
