The Bearded Vulture on the Wings of WordPress

by Vipe Team in Freestyle; Published on 20.02.2022

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If you line up all the members of Vipe Studio’s team in a row, here’s what you’ll see – developer, developer, marketing specialist, content creator, designer, a few more developers, and then finally… a bearded vulture! That’s right – one of Europe’s rarest raptors and symbol of Bulgarian nature conservation is part of our stellar crew.

Does he code? No. He’s way too majestic for that. What’s more, he’s kind of busy spreading the message of biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration, together with our friends from the Green Balkans organization.

Vipe Studio is supporting the Adoption Program of the Green Balkan’s Wildlife Rescue Center and we are proud adoptive parents of one of the center’s most regal habitants, namely the bearded vulture. We’d be happy to share with all of you why we believe so strongly in Green Balkan’s amazing cause and we’re sure you’ll be eager to learn more about the magnificent bearded vulture.

Green Balkan’s Mission

Over the course of its almost 30-year history, the Green Balkans Organization has undertaken more than 110 nature conservation projects with the help of its partners and sponsors, including the EU PHARE Program, USAID, GEF, REC, UNDP, WWF, and EURONATUR.

The $3,5 million in direct investments are spread among initiatives run by Green Balkans or in collaboration with other organizations. Green Balkans, WWF DCP, and the UNDP office in Bulgaria have launched two major conservation programs for the Danube river and the Western Rhodope Mountains, worth approximately € 20 million.

By now, more than 400 activities have been carried out by Green Balkans volunteers and civic organizations, 180 of which were of national significance. Many of these events were enormous protests that succeeded in preventing significant crimes against Bulgaria’s natural environment.

Green Balkans’ main mission is to preserve the natural environments of Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula. The organization works actively to conserve biodiversity, restore habitats, manage natural resources sustainably, promote nature conservation policy and law, and educate people about the environment.

The Wildlife Rescue Center’s Adoption Program

Vipe Studio is extremely proud to be part of Green Balkan’s Adoption Program. The Wildlife Rescue Center’s Adoption Program seeks to support the work of the country’s only “wildlife hospital”.

Green Balkans’ Rescue Center’s mission caught our attention as what they’re doing is absolutely unique for the territory of Bulgaria. The Center takes in stranded wild animals from all throughout the country and offers adequate treatment for them. After they have recovered completely, they are released back into the wild.

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Sadly, some of the patients are severely disabled, and despite the staff’s best efforts, they are not able to fully recover. Thankfully, though, these animals become residents of the Rescue Center for the rest of their lives where they receive the best possible care. However, the everyday treatment of such patients necessitates significant resources.

The Adoption Program entails the financial support of one or more animals that are permanently housed at the Center for a length of time determined by the adoptive parent. These contributions assist the Center’s staff in providing everything required for the rare and endangered species that are being taken care of. This is an amazing opportunity because, despite the fact the animals are no longer able to survive on their own, they can still have progeny that can be successfully released into the wild.

Vipe Studio is pleased to be able to contribute to the protection of Bulgaria’s natural environment in such a wonderful way as the Rescue Center’s Adoptive Program. We take it as part of our own mission to spread Green Balkan’s message for conservation and restoration of rare and threatened species and their habitats.

Meet Bulgaria’s Symbol of Nature Conservation – The Bearded Vulture

The bearded vulture is often depicted as a silhouette in a house, which is used to denote centuries-old trees or protected areas. This is how this majestic raptor became a symbol of Bulgarian nature conservation in the early twentieth century.

The bearded vulture is the biggest bird in the Alps and one of Europe’s rarest raptors. It lives in high mountainous locations and nests on high rock ledges. Bearded vultures were previously widespread in practically all of southern Europe’s mountain ranges, as well as the Alps.

No other raptor, as proven by the numerous fables and myths about it, has left such a lasting effect on mankind. Although the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is disjunctly distributed in the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indo-Malayan regions, it is quite uncommon in some locations and its population is assumed to be declining in general.

The Bearded Vulture has a really high conservation status. Due to poaching and the use of poisonous baits against terrestrial predators, the bearded vulture disappeared from Bulgaria in the 1970s. However, thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Green Balkans, restoration efforts are ongoing, and the future looks promising.

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However, vulture restoration still has a long way to go in terms of people recognizing the enormous economic and environmental advantages of protecting this species. Everyone needs to understand that the challenges associated with the raptor’s conservation are absolutely manageable and can be addressed by raising awareness.

The Challenges Bearded Vultures Face

The bearded vulture is listed in Annex II of the Bonn Convention, Annex II of the Bern Convention, Annex II of the CITES Convention, and the European Conservation status: SPEC 3, BD.

The population of the species was estimated to be 1,000-10,000 individuals by Ferguson-Lees et al. (2001). However, in Europe, the population is estimated to be 580-790 pairs, representing approximately 1,200-1,600 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

With the exception of northern Spain, where the population has grown since 1986, the species is declining across its range. The greatest hazards for the bearded vulture include poisoning, both accidental and intentional, habitat deterioration, disruption of mating areas, and life-threatening encounters with power lines.

Over the last three generations, the population is thought to have decreased by 25-29%. Sadly, the population of Europe is expected to decline by at least 10% in the next 53.4 years (or the next three generations).

In Bulgaria, the bearded vulture is classified as Extinct EX and the species is included in Annex II and III of the Biodiversity Act. At the turn of the century, there were estimated to be 2-5 individuals in the Macedonia-Greece and Bulgaria-Greece border areas, but there have been no recordings in these locations since 2005.

The bearded vulture faces numerous challenges when it comes to its restoration and protection on the territory of Bulgaria. Factors, such as illegal hunting, poisoning with baits for birds and mammals of prey, catching in traps, a reduced nutrition base, late sexual maturity, and low breeding capacity are among the main concerns that affect the species.

Thankfully, the Green Balkans organization is working on a long-term plan for the bearded vulture’s reintroduction into the wild and is now looking at prospective release areas. Green Balkans also aims to improve people’s perspectives and attitudes towards the species. Vipe Studio is supporting their noble cause by taking the role of an adoptive parent for one of the Wildlife Rescue Center’s resident bearded vultures.

Interesting Facts About the Bearded Vulture

It should be pretty clear by now that bearded vultures are really special species that deserve to be protected and cherished not only in Bulgaria but across all places that are natural habitats for the majestic raptor. Here are a few curious facts about the bearded vulture that Vipe Studio wants you to remember:

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The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is a large bird of prey, which, due to a number of threats, disappeared from Bulgaria in the mid-70s. However, several conservation organizations in Bulgaria are implementing long-term plans and projects for the return of the species to the country. The species is subject to protection in the European network NATURA 2000.
The bearded vulture is the largest vulture in Europe. Its dimensions are truly impressive – the wingspan reaches 2.8 m, and the raptor weighs up to 8 kg.
The bearded vulture is considered the symbol of Bulgarian nature protection – its silhouette is placed on every protected area and tree in the country.
All vultures are united under the nickname “wildlife sanitizers” because they feed on dead animals (the bearded vulture feeds on bones, too). Thus, these birds protect animals and humans from the spread of diseases and infections.

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Let’s conserve Europe’s rarest vulture!

The whole team at Vipe Studio believes that each and every one of us can play our part in conserving Europe’s rarest vulture. You can follow in our footsteps and adopt a bearded vulture (or any other endangered species for that matter) from an authoritative organization, such as Green Balkans.

That’s not all, though. There’s a myriad of things you can do to help protect this magnificent raptor. For instance, you can participate in monitoring and feeding operations at a supplementary feeding station near you, or you can join expeditions that are looking for appropriate reintroduction locations.

Vipe Studio urges you to always report any illegal use of toxic baits against predators to the authorities in your country. Take part in vulture conservation education activities and help spread the word for this amazing species by sharing what you’ve learned with your community.

We want to personally thank Green Balkans for their dedication and congratulate them on the outstanding progress they’ve been making towards increasing public awareness of the need for environmental protection and sustainable development. At Vipe Studio, we take it as our mission to popularize sustainable development ideas and promote environmentally friendly economic activity.