The Griffon Vulture does not know the state borders and it is a species that very easily and often overflows with the “small” states of the Balkans. This is why international cooperation of all those who workes to protect and return vultures to the areas where once lived is crucial.

Bulgarian colleagues and our friends Emilian Stoynov and Hristo Peshev monitor multiple vultures by satellite telemetry. Because three vultures: Juanjo II (Y7), Svetislav II (BY3), WFN (Y2), caught early this year in Bulgaria and to which a satellite transmitter has been installed are in Serbia for some time, we have given access to the data, so that we can work together to protect them.

It is shown almost daily that no endangered species has such support in the Balkans as the Griffon Vulture. The desire to preserve this remarkable bird, which is at the same time at risk of extinction, has succeeded in uniting efforts in the (usually) divided Balkan countries and forcing us all to work closer together.

The recent action to rescue vulture Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina when we, in cooperation with our colleagues, managed to save him and he is now in recovery at Blagaj’s center.

Of course, there are many other stories of good international cooperation such as the return of Dobrila from Turkey, the rescue of Sadam from Iraq, the treatment of Hadji Nike soup in Israel, cooperation with “Grifon – the Birds of Prey Protection Association” from Croatia, etc.

The Griffon Vulture is a symbol of successful protection of endangered species in the Balkans, and it is no wonder that last year’s conference on the protection of this species was called: “Vulture above the borders” ( International Vulture Awareness Day, 7-8.9.2019. Uvac… »)

We thank Emiliano and Hristo for their cooperation and we will continue for the benefit of this endangered species throughout the Balkans.

1.9.2018 In the Special Nature Reserve “Uvac” the Griffon Vultures “Zlatar” and “Marija mts” were released, equipped with satellite transmitters. Both have been in the daily program of satellite monitoring of the Birds of Prey Protection Foundation in the implementation of the project: “Management of the Gyps fulvus Griffon Vulutres Population Using Satellite Technology”, which received support at the 2018 competition of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Serbia. Based on over 4000 GPS data, we have valuable and reliable data on their movement and behavior.

Home Range of “Zlatar” in the period 1.9.2018. to 4/1/2020. years:

Total GPS points are: 4871
Highest altitude: 3321 m (12/10/2019)
Top speed: 100 km / h (02/02/2019)

Movement of “Zlatar” in the period 1.9.2018. to 1.4.2020. years:

______________________________________________

“Marija mts” from 1.9.2018 to 1.4.2020. years:

Movement of “Marija mts” in period from 01.09.2018. to 1.4.2020. years:

Total GPS points are: 4655
Highest altitude: 2987 m (11.12.2019)
Top speed: 93 km / h (26.09.2018)

Transmitter installation, September 2018

The Griffon Vulture “Luka” is the first bird in a satellite telemetry program from a colony on the Trešnjica River!
Luka is a young male who hatched in the spring of 2019 in the northernmost colony of Griffon Vultures in Europe, the “Trešnjica River Gorge” Special Nature Reserve. He was found extinct near the Drina on the 27.10.2019. years. He was recovered and when the conditions for returning to the colony on Trešnjica were met, we tried to release him on the 7.3.2020. but on that rainy day, Luke did not want to take off.

However, on the 20.03.2020. Luka was again released near the Trešnjica feeding station and this time he took off. Now he is in the monitoring program and within the project of the Birds of Prey Protection Foundation: “Management of the Griffon Vultures Population (Gyps fulvus) in the Special Nature Reserves: “Trešnjica River Gorge” and “Uvac”, at the Ministry of the Environment’s 2019 competition to award funding to support civil society projects in the environmental field.

Here is his move 10 days after its release:

Predrag Bata Ristanovic is one of the founders of the Birds of Prey Foundation and its longtime president. You can read about him:

Kreativna Zaostavština