The spectacular recovery of the bearded vulture

Every birth of a baby bearded vulture is a real miracle for the survival of a species which is in danger of extinction. Since the first one was born in captivity in Guadalentín in 2002, eggs have hatched and produced 100 chicks, of which 90 have guaranteed the conservation of a type of bird which is essential for the biodiversity of the planet.

With regard to breeding in the wild, the first attempts were not very successful because, of the first three, two disappeared and a third left Andalucía for the north of Spain. However, he then returned to Cazorla and did something historic in 2015, breeding with a different female bird who had been released.

That was the first time in 40 years that such an event had taken place in the mountains of Andalucía, and it resulted in the birth of Esperanza (Hope in English), the first female bearded vulure to be born in the wild in Andalucía, who is already trying to reproduce at the age of nearly six.

Since Esperanza was born, more birds have been released and five breeding pairs currently fly in the Andalusian sky, of which three females in the Cazorla natural park are bringing up their chicks despite the difficulties normally encountered in this species with their first clutches, which are rarely successful. There is also a sixth pair who have so far made no attempt to breed.

Some of the birds released in Andalucía come from other European centres, to strengthen their genetic quality, says Íñigo Fajardo, the coordinator of the bearded vulture programme.

He attributes the success of this project to the team and their efforts over many years. He also praises the work of the Vulture Conservation Foundation, which manages the Guadalentín and other centres in Europe, as well as the collaboration of the zoos in Berlin, Liberec and Tallin.