Griffon vulture breeding success recorded in Cyprus

Following ten years of conservation efforts, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) population in Cyprus has recorded successful breeding for the first time since 2021. BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service confirmed five breeding pairs nesting across various island locations, including a site inactive for 15 years. This development follows a period of decline caused by poisoning incidents in 2022 and 2023. Four of the breeding pairs consist of birds imported from Spain under the LIFE 'Life with Vultures' project. The fifth pair features a 13-year-old vulture of Cretan origin and a locally born bird from 2021, linking past conservation initiatives. Three chicks have been confirmed, all of which will be ringed and fitted with GPS trackers to monitor their development and post-fledging survival. These efforts represent a critical milestone in the recovery of the endangered species on the island.