The bird, which had been poisoned by lead, was treated at the Cruma Lipu and then released in the Orecchiella Park, in Tuscany.
LIVORNO – The griffon vulture that was rescued from lead poisoning and released on August 10 in the Orecchiella Park has arrived in France, at the Verdon Natural Regional Park. The bird, a scavenging raptor that plays a crucial ecological role as a “cleaner” of nature and a natural barrier to the spread of diseases, reached an important colony of griffon vultures after a few days of travel. Thanks to the GPS device allowing for tracking, its arrival in the French protected area has been confirmed.
The animal was handed over by the USL Toscana Centro as part of wildlife rescue operations in the Tuscany Region to the Lipu Cruma of Livorno, where it was kept for several weeks before its release in the Orecchiella State Natural Reserve, witnessed by around 70 people. This emotional event was made possible with the collaboration of the CITES Carabinieri Unit and the Carabinieri Biodiversity Unit. These two units contributed to the ringing operations for the bird and hosted the release event, which also involved staff from CITES Pisa and the staff from the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park.
Just before the release, personnel from the Forestry Carabinieri and Cruma applied the GPS device onto the vulture, a small “box” attached to the bird’s body using a kind of backpack. The device was provided by Rewilding Apennines, which monitors and manages griffon vulture tracking in the central Apennines in cooperation with the Carabinieri Biodiversity Unit of Castel di Sangro. The tracking will allow monitoring of any further movements or interventions as needed. The device is powered by a battery that charges via a small solar panel.
“This has been a valuable opportunity for us to enhance the monitoring of griffon vultures both on a regional and international scale, as well as to strengthen collaboration with organizations and entities that share our goals of protecting key species like the griffon vulture,” said Mario Cipollone, Team Leader of Rewilding Apennines.
The destination in France had been anticipated by the caregivers of the bird. The griffon vulture indeed uses the Apennines as a transit route between the areas it frequents. When it was rescued and recovered, it was likely already on its way to France, and, after its release, it was able to resume its journey where it had left off.
“We are very happy to know that the griffon has reached its destination safe and sound,” commented Nicola Maggi, Head of Cruma. “The collaboration among multiple parties, whom we thank, has made this important conservation-related achievement possible.”