For the next year our donations will be targeted at one of the BPPS' currently running projects - Recovery of the Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) as a nesting species in the Vrachanska Planina Mountain, Bulgaria.
The project is an important part of the Action Plan for the Recovery and Conservation of Vultures on the Balkan Peninsula and Adjacent Regions developed by leading international nature conservation organizations. It is funded by the Black Vulture Conservation Foundation (BVCF) and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), and has the following aims and tasks
Aims
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Creation of favourable conditions for attracting the Griffon Vulture to this region through artificial feeding.
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Eliminating and minimizing the threats.
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Development of positive attitudes of the local people to the birds of prey and to the biodiversity in general, based on particular benefits of activities like the eco-tourism as an alternative to the unemployment and deforestation.
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Supporting the rest vulture and raptor species - Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle etc. by means of artificial feeding and improved attitude of local inhabitants and through decline of threats.
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Additional special attention will be drawn to the local Egyptian Vulture population - 2 pairs, plus the population situated in the 70 km surrounding vicinity - ca. 1-3 pairs. The attention will be expressed in observations during the migration period, observations on the nesting and breeding success (and reasons for non-success, respectively), studies of the nutrition base etc.
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Increasing the capacity of BPPS and gaining valuable experience in working with the rest by far more rare and difficult species: the Bearded Vulture and the Black Vulture.
Tasks:
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Construction of two appropriate feeding platforms.
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Regular supply with dead meat - corpses of fallen livestock and residuals from slaughterhouses.
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Organizing a system for collection of suitable dead animals and transportation to the feeding platforms laboratory tests for proving the suitability of the meat.
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Monitoring and data exchange.
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Information campaign and training courses for the target groups.
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Minimizing the threats. Regular control.
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Studying the potential opportunities for re-introduction of birds bred in zoos - depends on the situation and the experience gained.
One day the amazing Griffon vultures
will nest and soar in this beautiful
area again, partly thanks to yours and our join support.
Should you need more detailed information about the project,
please contact us or come in the BPPS' office:
40 Vasil Levski Blvd
Sofia 1000, Bulgaria
Phone: (+359 2) 963 40 37
e-mail: bpps@abv.bg