Bearded vulture reintroduction 2023

«Sisi» and «Nepomuk» successfully released in the national park

For the third time, the Bavarian nature conservation association LBV (Landesbund für Vogel- und Naturschutz) and the Berchtesgaden National Park have successfully reintroduced two young bearded vultures, not yet capable of flight, into the wild in a rocky niche in the Klausbach Valley. The ten-year project aims to strengthen the central European, alpine population of this rare bird species and link it with populations in the Balkans and Asia Minor. Welcome back, great vulture!

 

© Alpenzoo Innsbruck

 

Welcome back, big Vulture!

With a wingspan of up to 2.90 meters, the bearded vulture is one of the largest flying birds in the world. At the beginning of the 20th century, the majestic bird of prey was extinct in the Alps. Since 1986, young bearded vultures have been reintroduced into the wild as part of a large-scale breeding project. The European breeding network is managed by the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) based in Zurich. While the birds have been reproducing independently in the Western and Central Alps since 1997, reproduction in the Eastern Alps has been slow. A project initiated by the Berchtesgaden National Park and the Bavarian nature conservation association LBV is addressing this issue and, in cooperation with the Nuremberg Zoo, is supporting reintroduction throughout the Alps. For this purpose, young bearded vultures will be released into the wild in the Klausbach Valley over the next ten years. Here you can find all information about this special event.

 

Press releases - only in german

Date	Press release title
18.04.2023	New vultures the country needs
17.05.2023	Nurse bearded vulture is released into the wild
18.04.2023	Austrian bearded vulture for Bavaria
29.03.2023	News from Bavaria, Recka and Dagmar
11.07.2022	Bearded vulture Recka also successfully flown out
02.07.2022	Dagmar flown out first
10.06.2022	FAQs - On the death of bearded vulture cub "Wally"
09.06.2022	More vultures for Bavaria: "Recka" and "Dagmar" successfully released into the wild
30.05.2022	Missing bearded vulture Wally is dead
08.04.2022	Viva Familia! - Reinforcement for Wally and Bavaria
22.02.2022	Nuremberg bearded vulture female has laid two eggs
21.01.2022	Signs of life from Bavaria after two months of radio silence
13.01.2022	Hope for bearded vulture offspring from Nuremberg
08.07.2021	Bearded vulture lady "Bavaria" has flown out
10.06.2021	"Bavaria" and "Wally" successfully released into the wild

 

The profiles of the two Austrians

Sisi and Nepomuk in portrait

Our two Austrian vultures come from the Alpine Zoo in Innsbruck and the Nuremberg Zoo.

 

 

Portrait of our bearded vultures released so far

Individual profiles, photos, videos and GPS signal at a glance

Here you can find out about the individual birds with their individual characteristics, photos, videos, past news and the GPS map.

 

 

 

Live images from the release niche via webcam

Route overview of our bearded vultures

Project background - Short & sweet!

Media Library & FAQ's