It’s probably safe to say that vultures are few people’s favourite birds. They have a terrible media image! However, here at World of Wings we love all our vultures. Of all the birds at the Centre, vultures are among the most misunderstood and unfairly maligned. In fact, globally, few people understand how important these incredible birds are in maintaining the health of our planet. They may not be as glamorous as Peregrine falcons or Golden eagles, but they play a far more important ecological role.
Sadly, the Eurasian Griffon vulture has been wiped out from much of its natural range in southern Europe, down through the Mediteranean and into the Middle East, which is a terribly sad state of affairs. In order to reintroduce these remarkable birds, we are working with the Horstmann Trust to reintroduce captive-bred birds back into the wild.
Our adult breeding pair – both of whom came to us injured and unable to fly properly – have produced two chicks in recent years, with the most recent arrival  hatching in March 2023. With the help of the Horstmann Trust, we aim to reintroduce this bird to a location in the eastern Mediteranean in summer 2023, where its early steps back into the wild will be carefully monitored by staff on the ground.
If you come along to the Centre and are lucky enough to see one of our vultures flying in a display, you’ll hear just what an important job these birds do when it comes to keep us safe and our environment clean and disease-free. It turns out that looks aren’t everything!