PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Sardinia’s population of griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is listed in Annex I to the Birds Directive and represents the last autochthonous breeding population of vultures in Italy. The Natura 2000 network sites around Bosa, Capo Marargiu and Porto Tangone (SPA ITB023037 and SCI ITB020041) and Capo Caccia (SPA ITB013044 and SCI ITB010042), are two of the most important breeding sites for griffon vultures in Italy and in the wider Mediterranean area. Conservation actions are needed to improve the conservation status of this species.
OBJECTIVES
The
overall objective of the LIFE UNDER GRIFFON WINGS project was to
improve the conservation status of the griffon vulture population in
Sardinia. The specific goals were to: mitigate
the shortage in carcass availability and increase the carrying capacity
of the foraging areas; mitigate the risk of poisoning; enhance
population viability via restocking; reinforce the local wildlife rescue centre and reduce human disturbance in the reproductive sites.
RESULTS
The LIFE UNDER GRIFFON WINGS project was implemented in the north-western of the Italian island of Sardinia, where it helped improving the conservation status of the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus). It did this through a breeding/rehabilitation centre and releasing birds to reinforce the population, establishing feeding stations, reducing the threat of the illegal use of poison, and mitigating the human disturbance on the nesting sites. Specifically, the project team released 63 vultures into nature; and mitigated against food shortage by activating 37 feeding stations on farms and 2 centralised feeding stations, which provided the vultures with a total of 102.995 kg of carcasses from January 2017 to August 2020 as additional food.
The griffon vulture population in Sardinia increased, with 242-272 individuals counted in 2020; 60 territorial pairs, 51 breeding pairs and 37 fledglings estimated in 2020 (all with increasing trends). The number of territorial and breeding pairs in Sardinia have doubled in 5 years. The increase in the reproductive indexes showed the positive response of the local vultures to the to the higher food availability and decreased disturbance at the reproductive sites resulted from the project. The productivity of the colonies was estimated to be at optimal values (0.6). The vultures released in the restocking action will likely start breeding from 2021. The vultures released had a high survival rate (84%), as did rehabilitated vultures (80%).
A total of 177 inspections were carried out by the anti-poison dog unit staff, to fight the illegal use of poison. This patrolling activity led to eight crime reports and two formal accusations for the illegal use of poisons and the death of wildlife species; one trial is ongoing.
Thanks to the project’s implementation, the Region of Sardinia is implementing for the first time in Italy a network of farm feeding stations with a nationally approved procedure. This action has a great replicability potential. The Regional Park of Porto Conte has forbidden (with a decree) access to the nesting area of griffon vultures.
Project actions enabled other priority bird species to nest in Sardinia. Two juvenile Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) successfully fledged in 2019 and 2020, the first documented breeding of this species in Sardinia. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), a species that has not bred in Sardinia since the 1960s, were also observed nesting. The spontaneous colonisation by these two species indicates the increased attractiveness of habitats for scavenger birds.
The project team produced a handbook, "Feeding stations: a tool for the conservation of vultures", which was made available to stakeholders, and endorsed the Ethical Code for the Naturalistic Photographer. The project’s awareness activities reached a large number of people through public events and social media. The feeding stations have proved to attract wildlife and ensured the presence of emblematic species in the targeted Natura 2000 sites. This has enhanced their ecosystem functions and benefitted recreational services.
The project is relevant to the EU Birds Directive, Habitats Directive, and 2020 Strategy for Biodiversity, as well as the Italian National Strategy for Biodiversity. Many of the actions foreseen in the Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) 2017-2029 have been implemented. EU Regulations in terms of carcass disposal (EC 1069/2009 and EU 142/2011) have also been fully implemented as a result of the project, and herders have been allowed to leave carcasses in their fields to feed vultures.
The main economic benefit is the savings generated for livestock herders thanks to reduced transport costs for the disposal of carcasses. Carcasses can now be left on the farm at vulture feeding stations.
An increased understanding of disposal procedures for carcasses, promoted by the on-farm vulture feeding stations, is contributing to the education of herders regarding the risks linked to the incorrect use of veterinary drugs to scavenger species and also to human health as carcasses of animals treated with drugs who die before the end of the set ‘suspension’ period must not be disposed of in farm feeding stations, and this could discourage an overuse of veterinary drugs.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan/After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
