On 7 August, at the headquarters of the Sirente Velino Regional Nature Park in Rocca di Mezzo, Rewilding Apennines presented the study assessing whether the environmental and social conditions now exist to bring the bearded vulture and the cinereous vulture back to the Central Apennines. Almost two years of work, sixteen authors from six European countries, three hundred and fifty pages.

On 6 March, 25 griffon vultures from Spain arrived in the Apennines. It is the beginning of a three-year initiative to strengthen a still fragile population and restore essential natural processes across the landscape — part of a far greater picture.

The poisoning of wildlife represents a cruel and criminal practice that we can no longer tolerate! Despite an Ordinance from the Italian Ministry of Health that details procedures in cases of suspected poisoning, reported cases rarely lead to effective investigations and convictions. Why can’t we completely eradicate this scourge?

Throughout Europe, the use of toxic substances to eliminate wildlife has its roots in ancient times when all those animals, especially predators, which posed a threat to hunting, livestock, and crops, were considered “vermin”.

An international study investigated the causes of mortality of 45 species of migratory birds on the African-Eurasian flyway, revealing a worrying picture: almost 40% of the deaths are human-induced.

3 griffon vultures and 1 fox dead close to a sheep carcass. In all likelihood, this is yet another case of wildlife poisoning, the first detected in 2024 in the Central Apennines.

The team effort of Rewilding Apennines, Carabinieri Biodiversity Unit of Castel di Sangro, and CRFS Lipu in Rome, facilitated the recovery and rehabilitation of the young griffon vulture monitored via GPS.

There is no end to the indignation at the discovery of wild animals that have most likely been poisoned by real criminals.

During this autumn, the monitoring of the Griffon vultures’ population in the Central Apennines is going on

Through volunteering and internship programs, Rewilding Apennines gives the opportunity to many young people to have professional and life experiences in direct contact with nature. This is Elena Viti’s story.