- Recovery Programme for the Black Vulture in Mallorca
- Black Vulture Captive-Breeding Programme
- Reintroduction of the Black Vulture in France and Catalonia
- Action Plan for the Recuperation and Conservation of Vultures in the Balkans
- Environmental Education
- ProNature Travel Project - Ecotourism and Conservation
Recovery Programme for the Black Vulture in Mallorca
The first actions for the recuperation of the Black Vulture in Mallorca were initialized in the 1970s by the Balearic Natural History Society and the Balearic Ornithological Group. The aim was to call to local and international attention to the species' precarious conservation status.
In 1982, the Mallorcan population, the last insular vulture population in the world, was at the point of extinction, with only 20 vultures left on the island. The response was the Balearic Government´s “Recovery Programme for the Black Vulture in Mallorca”, which was incorporated by the BVCF in 1986. Since then, based on an agreement of cooperation, the Foundation has been working closely with the Balearic Government, coordinating and carrying out the necessary actions for the species´ recovery.
Between 1984 and 1992, 35 vultures were liberated by the BVCF into Mallorca´s Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. The birds were brought to Mallorca from recuperation centers on the Spanish mainland and the Captive-breeding Programme.
The current Mallorcan population consists of approximately 110 individuals and 14 reproductive pairs, an improvement which demonstrates the effectiveness of our conservation activities.
Our yearly working programme includes:
Population monitoring and conservation activities
- Population census every two years
- Reproduction monitoring
- Marking and radio tracking
- Food support and monitoring at feeding sites and farmers' carcass deposits
- Patrolling and guarding sensitive nesting areas
- Establishing agreements for cooperation with landowners
- Protection and management of habitats, and preparing private management plans
- Control of threats (coordination of the SOS POISON Campaign)
Educational and informational projects
- Educational workshops for schools
- The Day of the Black Vulture, an annual ecology-themed fair in the village of Lluc
- Yearly seminar at the University of the Balearic Islands for 4th year biology students
- Communication with different social groups (hunters, hikers, etc.), and promotion of good hunting practices
- Distribution of educational and promotional materials
- Permanent exhibition at Ca S“Amitger in Lluc
- Giving assistance to national and international congresses
- Distribution of information to newspapers and local radio and TV stations
- Installation and maintenance of a webcam in a vulture´s nest in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range
Projects carried out in cooperation with:
Black Vulture Captive-Breeding Programme
Since 1986 we have been in cooperation with the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) to improve the results of captive breeding of the Black Vulture, and to create viable reintroduction projects. Nowadays, most modern zoos and breeding stations are eager to participate in conservation projects for endangered species. These institutions breed the vultures, which are then donated for liberation into the wild. Young captive-bred Black Vultures present the least difficulties in reintroduction. Unlike adult birds, they adapt perfectly to their new surroundings, as if they were born there. For this reason, they play a key role in these reintroduction projects.
44 European zoos and breeding stations are currently participating in the programme. In Spain these are: the Zoo of Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid Zoo, Barcelona Zoo, Fundació Natura Parc (Mallorca) and the Son Reus Breeding Centre in Mallorca.
Programme carried out in cooperation with:
Reintroduction of the Black Vulture in France and Catalonia
In 1989 the Foundation presented to the “Fond d´Intervention pour les Rapaces” (FIR) an evaluation of the possibilities for the reintroduction of the Black Vulture in France. The most favourable conditions were found in the Cévenne National Park, located in the French Central Massive, and the project was initialized in 1992, the first of its kind for this species. After ten years of hard work and international collaboration, there now exists a natural breeding population of Black Vultures in France, made up of 50 individuals and 10 reproductive pairs. In 1996 the first chick was born in the wild, and the population now includes 17 reproductive pairs.
In Verdon and Baronnies, northeast of Cévenne, in the French Pre-Alps, the BVCF has begun a further programme of reintroduction, taking another step towards reestablishing the historical distribution area which originally ranged from Spain to Eastern Europe.
In Catalonia, the Fundació Territori y Paisatge, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia and the BVCF have been working since 2005, making preparations for the liberation of vultures in the mountains around Alinya, Lleida.
Actions carried out in cooperation with:
Action Plan for the Recuperation and Conservation of Vultures in the Balkans and Adjacent Regions
In 1989, the BVCF initialized its work in the Balkans by visiting the former Yugoslavia, Greece and Bulgaria to compile data on the conservation status of the species. With the onset of the Balkan conflicts, all activities were suspended until 2002 when the situation had improved, and conservation work for the vultures was once again possible. The BVCF made a proposal to local governments and conservation institutions an “Action Plan for the Recuperation and Conservation of Vultures in the Balkans”, to promote, amongst other things, transnational and European collaboration. The project has developed, and continues to do so in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece. It depends on the collaboration of, among others, the Frankfurt Zoological Society, BirdLife International, the RSPB, the IUCN, the LPO, and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation. The plan´s aim is to use methods which help to preserve biodiversity, support the development of local institutions and to encourage socioeconomic activities that are favorable and respectful towards the natural environment. These methods include:
- Improving the capabilities of the local conservation institutions (hiring staff, equipment, etc.).
- Providing training for agents and technicians from qualified administrations.
- Monitoring the population and conservation status of the four vulture species native to the Balkans.
- Identifying and combating threats.
- Promotion of ecotourism, pastoralism, ecological agriculture, and other activities.
- Reintroduction of vultures in areas in which the conditions are most favourable.
Projects carried out in cooperation with:
For further information go to www.balkanvultures.net
Environmental Education Programme
The BVCF has extensive experience in environmental educational projects, a fundamental tool in promoting awareness of the need to protect the environment. Our first actions in this field date back to 1986, and were part of the Black Vulture in Mallorca Conservation Plan. Since then, our educational activities have been linked to the preservation of the Black Vulture, with two spheres of interest – explaining its biology and protecting its habitat.
The educational programme is designed for the general public of any age, from schoolchildren to adults. In putting it into operation, we have worked with various specialist groups (hikers, hunters, universities, government personnel…) although it is in the schools where there is most demand for our services.
The facilities in our centre are perfectly suited for large groups, and include a fifty person capacity lecture hall, equipped with a projector and screen, DVD and computer, as well as scale models of the Balearic Islands’ most significant and threatened birds of prey.Features of school visits
After the children are welcomed, they are seated in the lecture hall, where they are given a short presentation, accompanied with illustrations. Using PowerPoint, we tell them about the most important physical characteristics of the Black Vulture, its reproductive cycle and its feeding habits. We follow this with an explanation of the principal threats to the birds and their habitats, and of the conservation work of the Foundation. Afterwards, the children have some free time to have a snack and to rest or play.
The children are then divided into smaller groups and taken to see the Black Vulture we have in captivity at the centre. While waiting their turn, the other children occupy their time with other educational activities. They can colour in pictures of the vultures, watch a DVD about the work of volunteers for the Foundation, or see our permanently installed exhibition of the conservation of the Islands’ protected species, which was produced by the Balearic Ministry of the Environment.
Visits for the General public
The last Saturday of every month is reserved for families and anyone else who is interested in getting to know the Black Vulture and the BVCF.
However, you can also visit the centre during the week, although in both cases it is essential to contact us in advance to arrange an exact date and time. In general, Wednesday is set aside for Spanish speakers, and Tuesday and Thursday for those who speak English or German.
During your visit you will see how the Foundation operates and learn more about our projects. You can also stroll through our 20 hectare Holm oak wood and see a wide variety of plants and birds. But the most spectacular moment will be coming face to face with our Black Vulture. Visits last approximately one and a half hours.
To arrange a visit in advance, please phone: +34 971 51 66 20.
Actions carried out in cooperation with:
The ProNature Travel project was born as many BVCF projects urged for socio-economic development next to the conservation efforts. We found that it does not matter whether it is the Tramuntana mountain range in Mallorca or the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria; ecotourism generates an additional income for the local people stimulating rural development.
By initiating the ProNature Travel Project in 2009 we hope to meet the demand of socio-economic development within our projects all around Europe. We vision spectacular landscapes, a unique ‘behind the scenes’ experience to conservation and local expert guides from the field of conservation. Different than any other travel agency we secure our clients a 100 % reinvestment of the benefits back into conservation projects and expansion of the ProNature initiative. In this way we create a double benefit, for the local community and for nature preservation.
On our recently initiated path we desire to follow in the footsteps of the BVCF. If talking about conservation and tourism, one could say: ¨what works on Mallorca will work anywhere¨.
For questions about our project or travels please contact us:
ProNature Travel
pronaturetravel@bvcf.org
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