Saving Griffon Vultures in Cyprus through concrete conservation actions

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is on the brink of extinction in Cyprus, with only 20 individuals left. The species requires urgent conservation work to ensure its continued survival and reproduction, including actions to boost its population and measures to tackle the serious threats it faces. The illegal use of poisoned baits (targeting foxes and stray dogs) is the most critical threat. Their widespread use is an insidious problem that also affects other wildlife. Tackling the widespread poisoning threat is in keeping with the Birds Directives aim of ensuring thatall wild birds receive basic protection from killing, as illegal poisoned baits are the main threat to the conservation of various species of raptors. Other critical issues are shortage of food and collisions with electricity wires. These threats, as well as sporadic disturbance to the main remaining breeding colony and incidents of shot birds, indicate lack of awareness about the importance of vultures. Gaps in the understanding of vulture population dynamics in Cyprus are another obstacle to vulture recovery. The griffon vulture is listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE-WithVulturesCY projects overall objective is first to prevent the griffon vultures extinction in Cyprus and then to improve its conservation status. To achieve this, it will address critical threats to the species, involving key stakeholders in the process and bolstering the local population to enable its recovery. Specifically, the project aims to reduce griffon vulture mortality by tackling key direct threats and to enhance the populations viability via restocking. It also plans to fill knowledge gaps related to the threats and enhance the national technical and operational capacity of the relevant authorities to protect and manage the griffon vulture population in Cyprus effectively. In addition, LIFE-WithVulturesCY aims to improve stakeholders awareness on the importance of the species and the need for its conservation, and to establish a national functioning network of actors related to nature conservation.

RESULTS

Expected results:

increase in the free-flying population of griffon vultures from the current 20 individuals to 45 by the projects end (including birds brought from Spain to bolster local numbers);

establishment of two anti-poison dog patrol units for early detection and recovery of baits and poisoned wildlife, and development of anti-poisoning protocols and procedures;

creation of a poisoning incident database, based on existing records and updated throughout the project with geo-referencing of incidents in an electronic map;

a 50% reduction in poisoning incidents by the projects end, measured from the baseline established in the poisoning incident database;

a halving in the mortality of griffon vultures caused by poisoned bait use;

marking of 8 km of high-risk power lines within keyNatura 2000 sites to reduce vulture collision risk;

restocking with griffon vultures from Spain to boost the local population and improve the demographics of the current population. Between 24 and 28 vultures will be released;

expansion of the existing network of managed feeding stations to five and review of feeding schemes and regimes in order to establish optimal food supply protocols;

increased awareness among key stakeholders of the need to end illegal use of poisoned baits, of the vultures plight and the importance of their ecological role (55 community and school visits in nine key Natura 2000 sites and a 15% increase in positive responses);

GPS tagging of 35 griffon vultures; and

an anti-poisoning national action plan road map agreed by project partners and key stakeholders.