In Abruzzo a young griffin returns to the wild

The vulture, feeding on waste from the slaughter of animals hunted with the use of ammunition containing lead, became intoxicated

ROME – The afternoon of Sunday 26 November 2023 seemed to pass like many others, at least until the GPS of a young griffin, monitored as part of the collaboration between Rewilding Apennines and the Carabinieri Biodiversity Department of Castel di Sangro, does not reported an anomaly:the animal had been stationary for too long.It is not strange for griffon vultures to stop in the same place for several hours, especially in the presence of food, but a subject remaining in one place for days immediately arouses suspicion.In fact, by feeding exclusively on carcasses, it is not uncommon for griffins to become victims of poisoning and intoxication.Poisoned carcasses to attack large predators have already claimed victims among griffon vultures last spring and in the following months.Other times, however, it happens that these scavengers feed on the remains of hunted or poached wild animals with ammunition containing lead, and this, accumulating in the tissues, can intoxicate the griffon and, in the most serious cases, kill it.

The field officers of Rewilding Apennines, Having noticed the anomaly, they immediately went to the site for an inspection, but at first, due to the darkness, it was not possible to identify the animal.The following morning, therefore, a second attempt was made, and iThe griffin, cold and debilitated, was identified and captured with the collaboration of the Carabinieri Biodiversity Department of Castel di Sangro.The animal was then transported to the CRFS (Wildlife Recovery Center) Lipu in Rome, where all the necessary investigations were carried out.The young griffon, despite the presence of lead in his blood in quantities slightly higher than the threshold considered toxic, was in fair physical condition. The results of the analyses, carried out several days after the moment in which he should have fed for the last time, suggest that he had fed on slaughter waste from animals hunted with the use of ammunition containing lead, becoming intoxicated and unable to take flight again.

Luckily the vulture immediately proved to be a fighter and he started feeding again shortly after arriving at CRFS Lipu.Despite the excellent conditions, however, it took the animal over a month to return to such conditions as to be able to return to the wild.
On January 2, the CRFS Lipu and Rewilding Apennines teams brought the griffon vulture back into the wild near one of the breeding colonies in Abruzzo to increase its chances of survival.
“Certainly in this case, as in several others since the start of the monitoring program in 2021, the use of satellite transmitters allowed us to intervene timely enough to recover an animal that would otherwise very likely have died,” he says Nicolò Borgianni, Vulture Field Officer of Rewilding Apennines.
Satellite transmitters, in fact, allow us to identify not only possible cases of poisoning, as occurred several times in 2023, but also anomalous movements that are an indication of discomfort, due to illnesses, injuries or poisoning (as in this case).

“The first winter is certainly a difficult time for young griffon vultures, who, for the first time in their lives, find themselves facing harsh temperatures, difficult flying conditions and greater food scarcity, and are therefore more likely to feed on game slaughter remains or waste from livestock farms, exposing themselves more frequently to potential risks to their health.Monitoring via GPS is therefore also important for the recovery of specimens in difficulty, especially considering that mortality due to anthropic causes for the griffon vulture population of the central Apennines remains high and therefore every single specimen is fundamental for the survival of the species in our mountains ”, adds Borgianni.

The young griffon vulture was undoubtedly very lucky.“Its story demonstrates how collaboration between local authorities and organizations can be crucial for the protection of wild animals.Furthermore, it demonstrates the effectiveness of the monitoring program, which allows not only to keep track of places of interest for the species, such as feeding and nesting areas, but also the timely intervention necessary to save the lives of these precious , how undervalued, animals,” says Rewilding Apennines.

“We thank all those who collaborated in the recovery and release of the young griffon vulture into the wild:our field officers, also active on weekends, the Carabinieri Biodiversity Department of Castel di Sangro and the staff of the CRFS Lipu in Rome. We hope that this specimen will continue to fly in the skies of the central Apennines for a long time and contribute to the protection of the very precious species of which it is part..Stories like yours repay us for all the efforts made so far and motivate us to continue working with growing commitment to guarantee the griffon vultures of the central Apennines a safe environment in which to thrive and play their fundamental role in the ecosystem", concludes Rewilding Apennines.