Now that the breeding season in the bearded vulture captive breeding network managed by the VCF has finished, we are also publishing the final results and report for last year´s. As you can read in the document below, last year´s breeding season was a record breaking - from 33 hatchlings, 26 survived, surpassing the previous record of 25 fledglings in 1999. This year results have been even better!

Last year´s wonderful breeding success gave us the possibility to supply with birds all release sites (4) and at the same time include a high number of males in the captive network. Although the number of unpaired females could be reduced significantly from 11 to 5, we still have a lack of adult males which are in reproducing age.

Also, last year four new founders reproduced for the first time. Two of them are from the Pyrenees, enhancing the build-up of an ex situ genetic reserve from that European autochthonous population. Currently 6 Pyrenean birds are included in the EEP and three of them are reproducing - the remaining three started to mate and build nests.

The VCF would like to thank all the 40+ zoos, captive breeding centers and animal parks for their contribution and engagement.