LIFE Rupis - Egyptian Vulture and Bonelli’s Eagle Conservation in Douro/Duero Canyon

Implementation period: July 2015 to July 2019

Implementation area: Northeast Portugal and Castilla y Léon (Spain)

Target Vulture species: Egyptian vulture

The LIFE Rupis project aims to implement actions to strengthen the populations of the Egyptian vulture (and the Bonelli´s eagle) at the trans-border Douro, by reducing the mortality of these birds and increasing their breeding success. The Egyptian vulture is the smallest vulture in Europe, and it is classified as "Endangered" – in Europe its populations have declined by 50% over the last 40 years, and the Douro canyon includes one of its strongholds in Iberia – 135 pairs, according to the baseline study done in the beginning of the project.

The project is tackling the most important threats to Egyptian vultures, namely food shortages, degradation of the habitat, electrocution risk and the illegal use of poison, through actions which include: equipping electric lines against electrocution, minimizing the threat of illegal poisoning, targeted management of over 1,000 hectares of important habitats for the species and also the creation of a network of supplementary feeding stations.

The Egyptian vulture is Europe’s most threatened vulture species – classified as “Endangered” at global level. While the three others European vulture species are registering positive trends across Europe, Egyptian vultures continue to decline in most regions in the continent (and elsewhere).The Douro canyon includes one of its strongholds in Iberia – 135 pairs, according to the baseline study done in the beginning of the project.

Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves (leading partner), Transumância e Natureza - Associação, EDP Distribuição – Energia, S.A, Fundación Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León, Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, Junta de Castilla y León, Palombar, Associação da Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural, Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF)

• Analysis of biological and economic results of current implementation of EU sanitary regulations, and development of recommendations;
• Preparation of adequate field protocols for toxicological identification of direct (poison) and indirect (heavy metals, antibiotic) contaminants in the target species;
• Monitoring of the use of space during breeding season, migration and wintering areas through remote tracking;
• Analysis of Agro and veterinary chemicals contamination in birds of prey

For more information, visit the Rupis website