Black Vultures, the largest and heaviest birds of prey in Europe, have returned to the Eastern Rhodopes after 14 birds were released from Spain at the end of last week, reports BNR Kardzhali. A team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, the Spanish NGO GREFA and the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation released the first flock of vultures in the Eastern Rhodopes as part of a recovery program in the Bulgarian section of the mountain. After 6 months of adaptation in a specially built aviary between the towns of Madzharovo and Ivaylovgrad, the black vultures were released. The ecologists monitor them closely to make sure that their adaptation is going smoothly.

The plan is to release 6-10 individuals per year in the coming years. If a colony of Black Vultures is established in Bulgaria, this will contribute to the survival of the species in the Balkans. They are expected to establish contacts with the last surviving local colony of about 25-30 pairs in the Greek part of the Rhodope Mountains, as well as with newly formed colonies of the species in the Balkan Mountains.