Nicosia, Cyprus. The Griffon vulture has bred successfully in Cyprus for the first time since 2021, with conservationists calling it a major milestone for one of the island’s most endangered bird species. BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service said five breeding pairs nested in different parts of the island this year, producing three confirmed chicks.
Breeding milestone
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service said the development follows years of conservation work. It also comes after major setbacks for the species, including the loss of the last breeding pairs to poisoning incidents in 2022 and 2023.
The organisations said this year marks a historic turning point for the species and that the five breeding pairs are expected to make a significant contribution to the recovery of the population, which remains critically low in Cyprus.
Role of reintroduced birds
The organisations said four of the five breeding pairs include birds brought from Spain under the EU-funded Life with Vultures project. The birds were released in Cyprus in 2022 and 2023 and have now reached breeding age.
They said the presence of five breeding pairs now creates the conditions for natural population growth through the production of young individuals in Cyprus.
Monitoring and nesting sites
The three chicks confirmed so far will be fitted with rings and GPS transmitters so researchers can track their movements and monitor their survival after leaving the nest.
Officials also said vultures have returned to traditional nesting grounds, with one nesting site used again after around 15 years.