Under the Iron Curtain to Green Belt project, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/ BirdLife Bulgaria team recorded the first successful wild breeding of captive-bred Egyptian vultures in Bulgaria, marking a critical step in the recovery of the species in the Balkans.
The breeding pair, Izi and Lucky, exemplify the success of the restocking programme. Izi, born at the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in 2019, was released in 2020. Lucky, a wild male tagged with a GPS transmitter, paired with Izi in 2022. This year, they successfully hatched two chicks in the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria.
Izi and Lucky’s nest. Image: Volen Arkumarev, BSPB
The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) has a rich cultural history, revered in ancient Egypt and celebrated in the local legends of the Eastern Rhodopes. Elders in villages of the Eastern Rhodopes still remember and share the legend of “ak baba” (the white father), who saved Muhammad from the claws of a golden eagle. As a sign of gratitude, the Prophet gave him eternal life and white plumage, symbolising purity and courage.
Despite its historical significance, the species faces severe threats, including habitat loss, poisoning and illegal killing, electrocution and collisions with energy infrastructure. Once widespread, the population has dwindled to less than 60 pairs in the Balkans.
To combat this decline, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) – in collaboration with Green Balkans, Prague Zoo, and EAZA – launched a reinforcement programme in 2018. The programme raises vultures in captivity and releases them into the wild, hoping they will form pairs and breed successfully. Since its inception, five captive-bred vultures have reached maturity and paired in the wild, including Izi’s sister Zara, who is also raising a chick in the wild this year.
A key component of this programme is the “vulture school,” where young vultures are prepared for life in the wild. This year, a record number of six birds were placed by the BSPB team in the specially designed adaptation aviary in the Eastern Rhodopes. The birds, including Izi and others, undergo detailed veterinary examinations at this facility, receive metal rings for individual identification, and learn essential survival skills.
Egyptian vulture release site. Image: BSPB
During their time in the “vulture school,” these young vultures adapt to local conditions, observe the behaviour of wild vultures visiting the feeding station, socialise, learn to roost on trees, and feed on various food items. This rigorous preparation ensures they are ready for the challenges of the wild.
In 2024, six previously released vultures returned to the Eastern Rhodopes, with four establishing breeding territories with wild partners. Two of these pairs are raising chicks this year, demonstrating the programme’s success. The birds are tagged with GPS transmitters to monitor their real-time movements and behaviour after release.
Tracking Data for Izi and Lucky. In the past five years, Izi has travelled thousands of kilometres between wintering grounds in Sudan and her new breeding territory in the heart of the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria.
“The release of these magnificent Egyptian vultures into the wild represents a significant milestone for our team and partners,” says Volen Arkumarev (BSPB), coordinator of the Restocking Programme. “Witnessing these birds take their first flight over the breathtaking Eastern Rhodopes is truly inspiring. Each vulture in the sky is a powerful reminder of our collective mission to protect and restore endangered species.”
To find out more about the Iron Curtain to the Green Belt project, visit their project page.
