ZOO Planckendael has released young black vultures into the wild for the third time in its capacity as the coordinator of the European breeding programme for these endangered species of vultures. The zoo is currently carrying some conversations with the wildlife of Bulgaria in Mechelen after France and Spain. Eastern Europeans will have a new lease on life, appreciating these three black vultures, one of which was born in Belgium.
Planckendael anticipates that the birds will raise their own offspring within four years, ensuring a rise in the population of black vultures in Bulgaria.
Marleen Huyghe, the bird curator in Planckendael, said, ” This research is pioneering. The young birds can be released as soon as there are enough births to maintain the population in the zoo, and the cycle continues. This year, three birds are eligible: one from Mechelen and two from the Czech Republic. We have a dating aviary for this purpose and a breeding centre behind the scenes”.
A chip was also implanted recently into every one to follow the released birds and provide assistance if necessary. The creatures are first housed in a giant aviary for a month to ensure they imprint the new spot as their birthplace. Once the aviary opens after that month, they are free to choose an area of open air.
The beginning of a restocking effort is still quite dangerous for young birds as many of them suddenly perish since they frequently become prey for jackals and other hunting animals.
From Spain through the Balkans and Northern Greece to Asia, vultures were previously common throughout Europe. However, their habitat is becoming smaller these days. The primary objective of the breeding effort is to see black vultures flying over their native range in southern Europe once again.