The Iberian Highlands, an 850,000-hectare landscape in central Spain, support a rich variety of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and rugged canyons. Decades of rural depopulation have led to economic stagnation and shifts in land use, altering natural processes and disrupting ecological balance. However, these changes also present an opportunity for large-scale restoration. Restoring lost species is a crucial part of this effort, as healthy ecosystems depend on the presence of all their functional components.
The reintroduction of the cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) is helping to restore an essential ecological role—scavenging. Alongside efforts to support griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), which favour larger carcasses, cinereous vultures consume smaller remains and scraps that might otherwise go uneaten. This complementary feeding behaviour strengthens their role as “nature’s clean-up crew,” preventing the spread of disease and supporting nutrient cycling. By restoring both vulture species, the project is working to rebuild a more balanced ecosystem where scavengers can thrive. With increasing environmental protections and a growing emphasis on nature-based economies, conditions are now favourable for the return of these birds to the Iberian Highlands.
The cinereous vulture reintroduction programme in the Iberian Highlands is led by the Department of Sustainable Development of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha and the Alto Tajo Natural Park, with on-the-ground work carried out by Rewilding Spain and the Terra Naturalis association. Since its launch in 2020, the programme has been working to restore this key scavenger, which disappeared from the landscape as a resident species a century ago. With this latest release, a total of 21 cinereous vultures have now been set free, helping to re-establish a breeding population in the Alto Tajo and Serranía de Cuenca regions.
Unlike the griffon vulture, which nests on rocky cliffs, the cinereous vulture builds its nests in treetops, making it particularly vulnerable to forest degradation. The improved protection of the Alto Tajo and Serranía de Cuenca forests now provides the habitat stability needed to support the return of this important scavenger.
The four cinereous vultures came from wildlife recovery centres and before their release they spent several months of adaptation in an aviary located in the Alto Tajo Natural Park. As well, a month before the release, the birds were equipped with GPS devices that allow to monitor their movements. These devices are very light, solar-powered transmitters that enable very precise tracking.
Essential adaptation period before the release
Jorge Layna from Terra Naturalis, technical manager for the project, explains that the adaptation period in the aviary is “essential to favour the settlement of cinereous vultures in a new territory, as this is a species with a strong philopatry that tends to reproduce in the same place of birth.” To support their long-term establishment in the Iberian Highlands, the programme manages six feeding stations where livestock carcasses are deposited, providing a reliable food source. Additionally, 21 nesting platforms have been installed in treetops, two of which feature life-size decoys to encourage nesting and attract new individuals to the area.
This spring marks a significant milestone for the programme, as it will be the first time that reintroduced cinereous vultures reach breeding age. Ángel Vela, managing director of the Alto Tajo Natural Park, highlights the importance of this phase: “The evolution of the programme has been satisfactory so far, and now we are entering a crucial period. This spring will be the first opportunity for vultures to breed in the area, as some will reach reproductive maturity, marking the starting point for pair formation. Several individuals are already established in the region, and the presence of vultures from other breeding areas is an encouraging sign for the future.”
Pablo Schapira, Rewilding Spain’s team leader in the Iberian Highlands, emphasises the broader significance of the project: “We are getting closer to the return of the cinereous vulture to the landscape—an essential step in restoring the role of necrophagous birds in the ecosystem’s food chain. This recovery is not only ecologically important but also enhances the region’s potential for nature-based tourism.”
This article was originally published on the Rewilding Spain website. To find out more about the Iberian Highlands, visit their project page.
