Vulture Conservation Foundation
LIFE GypHelp - Reduction of the human threats affecting the Bearded Vulture
Implementation period: August 2014 to December 2018
Implementation area: French Alps
Target Vulture species: Bearded Vulture
Summary
The LIFE GYPHELP project aims to preserve the Bearded Vulture population in the French Alps, by reducing the main threats to its populations, namely the collisions against cables, intoxication/poisoning (particularly lead poisoning), and disturbance of the breeding sites by human activities.
During the project, many ski lifts and electricity power lines are being fit with anti-collision systems.
Partners
Asters, Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Haute-Savoie (leading partner), Fédération Départementale des Chasseurs de Haute Savoie, Association Observatoire des Galliformes de Montagne, Parc national du Mercantour, Parc national de la Vanoise, Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF)
VCF main actions/activities in the project
- Evaluation of the legal and operational situation regarding illegal poisoning and anti-poisoning actions in the project area;
- Presentation of the current knowledge on the best-practice regarding lead poisoning, including legal context and solutions;
- Monitor the impact of the project in the Bearded vulture population, within the IBM (International Bearded Vulture Monitoring Programme), which includes the analysis of occasional and specific observations, breeding season monitoring, genetic population study, and tagging and remote tracking.
For more information, visit the GypHelp website
Relevant documents
Brochure about LIFE GypHelp
News about the GypHelp project
Wed
06
May
2020
Birdski: mitigating threats in ski areas to protect Bearded Vultures in the French Alps
Sun
10
Jun
2018
First bearded vultures released this year in Europe already fledged (in Baronnies), while two more birds released in Austria this weekend
Sat
28
Apr
2018
Breeding bearded vulture dies after colliding with cable in Vanoise - single partner continues to take care of the chick
Thu
05
Apr
2018
Tono and Blimunda do it again! Second bearded vulture hatched in the wild in Andalucía this year.
Sat
31
Mar
2018
68 (Easter) eggs in the bearded vulture captive breeding season - but number of resulting chicks will be average
Thu
22
Mar
2018
Palanfré - the white bearded vulture was found dead in Piemonte
Wed
21
Mar
2018
Infogipeto - latest newsletter on the bearded vulture reintroduction project in the Alps just published (in Italian)
Sun
18
Mar
2018
Bearded vulture census and symposium in Stelvio National Park (Italy) – celebrating an extraordinary human and conservation adventure!
Fri
02
Mar
2018
Dispatches from the field: 3 pairs of bearded vultures incubating in Vanoise while breeding has been confirmed (at long last!) in the Écrins (Alps)
Thu
08
Feb
2018
Good news from the Alps – early start of the breeding season and already two new pairs of bearded vultures!
Tue
06
Feb
2018
Italy – bearded vulture symposium and field count in Stelvio to be organised in March
Thu
01
Feb
2018
Whooshh! An adult bearded vulture alights near a webcam in the Gran Paradiso National Park
Mon
29
Jan
2018
Bearded vultures - and one of the most remarkable wildlife comeback stories of our times - features in Geographical
Fri
19
Jan
2018
39 eggs and counting in the bearded vulture captive breeding network - like this one in La Garenne Zoo
Wed
17
Jan
2018
With more snowstorms coming to the Alps this week, bearded vultures are… breeding!
Tue
09
Jan
2018
Video: Anti-collision markers put on a high-voltage line with a drone (LIFE GYPHELP)
Mon
08
Jan
2018
29 eggs and counting – busy period in the bearded vulture captive breeding network!
Sat
09
Dec
2017
Bearded vulture Adonis, the great traveler, is back in the Grands Causses!
Fri
03
Nov
2017
Bearded vultures in the Alps - come to Passy (Haute Savoie) next weekend (12th November) to participate in one of several public events
Wed
01
Nov
2017
Three captive bearded vultures die because of West Nile virus - a serious threat for the International Bearded Vulture captive breeding program
Read More
Wed
18
Oct
2017
Great perspectives for vultures in France – 23ème Rencontre du Groupe Vautours
Tue
03
Oct
2017
The International bearded vulture observation day is this Saturday (7th October) – last chance for you to join us in the Alps!
Thu
28
Sep
2017
Can´t miss it - the 2017 bearded vulture meeting is coming – 10-12 November, Passy, Haute-Savoie (French Alps)
Sat
02
Sep
2017
International Vulture Day is today – Post 2 – Bearded vulture – did you know…?
Wed
19
Jul
2017
Bearded vultures in the Alps – with 45 territories, another record-breaking breeding season
Wed
05
Jul
2017
Bearded vultures and lead poisoning – lead-free pilot sites on the cards in the French Pyrenees
Wed
21
Jun
2017
Adult bearded vulture rescued and re-released back to the wild in the French Alps
Tue
20
Jun
2017
Guidelines for feeding bearded vultures in captivity are now also available in French
Tue
11
Apr
2017
Spectacular aerial duel between bearded vultures in the French Alps results in the death of one of them
Mon
10
Apr
2017
Bearded vultures in the Alps – on course for another record-breaking breeding season
Wed
22
Mar
2017
How many bearded vultures are there in the Alps? See results from the 2016 International Observation day (simultaneous census)
Wed
08
Mar
2017
Infogipeto - latest newsletter on the bearded vulture reintroduction project in the Alps just published (in Italian)
Mon
20
Feb
2017
Bearded vultures and lead poisoning – National Park Hohe Tauern (Austria) is promoting lead-free hunting practices
Tue
06
Dec
2016
The bearded vulture breeding season is starting across Europe´s mountain ranges!
Wed
23
Nov
2016
Second newsletter of the LIFE+ GYPCONNECT published – linking bearded vultures from the Alps to the Pyrenees
Sun
09
Oct
2016
A first for France – LIFE GYPHELP puts anti-collision markers on a high-voltage line with a drone
Thu
06
Oct
2016
International observation day is this weekend – join us! Last year 700 volunteers counted ~190 bearded vultures, or 70% of the estimated Alpine population
Tue
04
Oct
2016
Dark year for bearded vultures in Andalusia – two more birds found poisoned in the last weeks, total for this year 3
Wed
21
Sep
2016
Get out – these mountains are mine! Says the bearded vulture to the griffon vulture
Tue
20
Sep
2016
Results of the bearded vulture breeding season in the Alps 2016 – 43 breeding pairs, 25 chicks fledged, best year ever!
Mon
22
Aug
2016
New film on the release of bearded vultures Lucky and Charlie in Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria)
Fri
12
Aug
2016
VCF and the Swiss Foundation Pro Bartgeier release new film about the reintroduction of bearded vultures in the Swiss Alps
Fri
08
Jul
2016
Bearded vulture captive breeding for conservation – 2015 report published
Tue
31
May
2016
Restoring bearded vultures across Europe – two more birds released in the Swiss Alps
Wed
25
May
2016
Vagrancy season: two young bearded vultures flying around northern Europe (UK and Denmark)
Sat
21
May
2016
Demonstrating the fitting of tags to bearded vultures using Marie-Antoinette
Sun
01
May
2016
Reintroducing bearded vultures to the wild – release season is starting soon!
Fri
29
Apr
2016
Bearded vulture in Europe – summary of the 2015 breeding season
Fri
22
Apr
2016
New paper vindicates VCF methods – release of captive-bred bearded vultures the best method to restore populations
Sun
10
Apr
2016
Dead bearded vulture found last year in Switzerland had been released in Vercors in 2012
Sat
26
Mar
2016
Two of the four pairs of bearded vultures nesting in the Parc National de la Vanoise (Alps, France) have been successful
Mon
29
Feb
2016
Do animals recognise their disabilities? Some evidence from bearded vulture Kirma
Sat
20
Feb
2016
Bearded vultures in the Alps - Update on the breeding season 2015/2016: lots of new pairs established!
Sun
07
Feb
2016
A new breeding pair of bearded vultures in Savoie (French Alps)
Wed
03
Feb
2016
Bearded vulture captive breeding (for conservation): 47 eggs and counting – and the first chicks!
Wed
27
Jan
2016
The structure of bearded vulture shells and implications for conservation
Fri
15
Jan
2016
Conclusions and presentations of the seminar on lead poisoning and bearded vultures published
Thu
14
Jan
2016
Great Audio-book for children on the bearded vulture (in French)
Mon
11
Jan
2016
Annual bearded vulture meeting, November 2015 - the conclusions are now out!
Fri
08
Jan
2016
How many bearded vultures are there in the Alps? First results from the 2015 International Observation day (simultaneous census)
Wed
09
Dec
2015
1st egg of the breeding season in the Bearded vulture captive breeding network
Sun
29
Nov
2015
Working together to update the international species action plan for the bearded vulture (LIFE EUROSAP)
Fri
06
Nov
2015
From the Massif Central to the Alps – bearded vultures on the move in France
Mon
12
Oct
2015
Thank you to all the volunteers who have joined us for the International Bearded Vulture Observation Days!
Thu
08
Oct
2015
The International alpine bearded vulture observation day is this Saturday - come and count bearded vultures with us in the Alps!
Thu
08
Oct
2015
Bearded vulture exhibition & other events in Haute-Savoie (France)
Sun
04
Oct
2015
Come and count bearded vultures in the Alps with us – International bearded vulture observation day is on the 10th October!
Wed
30
Sep
2015
Lead poisoning and bearded vultures in the French Alps –significant progress in the seminar this week at Annecy
Sun
27
Sep
2015
The VCF will be tomorrow in Annecy co-leading a seminar on lead poisoning and bearded vultures
Wed
16
Sep
2015
Seminar on lead poisoning and bearded vultures – Annecy (Haute Savoie, France), 28 September 2015
Thu
10
Sep
2015
Good breeding season for bearded vultures in the Alps – more pairs (34) and one more wild born chicks fledged (20) than last year
Sun
19
Jul
2015
Poison and lead are the main cause of vulture deaths in the French Pyrenees
Donate
Support our work and help us protect vultures
Want to keep up to date?
Campaigns
