{"id":12915,"date":"2026-11-11T13:01:21","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T13:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/?p=12915"},"modified":"2026-11-11T13:01:21","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T13:01:21","slug":"new-project-to-bring-griffon-and-cinereous-vultures-back-to-romanias-southwestern-carpathians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/?p=12915","title":{"rendered":"New project to bring griffon and cinereous vultures back to Romania\u2019s southwestern Carpathians"},"content":{"rendered":"

At least 170 griffon and 24 cinereous vultures will be reintroduced into the southwestern Carpathians by 2033 under a new conservation program. Rewilding Romania\u2019s seven-year LIFE for Vultures<\/em> project will begin with the griffon species before expanding to the cinereous one, according to a press release.<\/p>\n

The program will run until September 30, 2033, around Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park and Ob\u00e2r\u0219ia-Clo\u0219ani commune in Mehedin\u021bi county.<\/p>\n

The birds will come from wildlife rehabilitation centers and, where necessary, captive breeding programs. They will undergo veterinary checks before being transported to Romania and spend between six and nine months in an acclimatization aviary before their gradual release.<\/p>\n

Their movements will subsequently be tracked using GPS transmitters.<\/p>\n

\u201cReintroducing vultures is part of our effort to restore natural processes in the southwestern Carpathians,\u201d said Marina Drug\u0103, executive director of Rewilding Romania, which coordinates the project.
\n\u201cWe will work closely with farmers, local communities, and the authorities so that these species can resume their role in nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

Griffon and cinereous vultures disappeared as breeding species in Romania during the 20th century because of poisoning, direct persecution, declining food sources, and the degradation of nesting habitats. Individual birds are still occasionally observed in the country, but no stable breeding population has been restored.<\/p>\n

The scavengers feed on animal carcasses, helping recycle nutrients and potentially limiting the spread of pathogens, project representatives said.<\/p>\n

The project will also establish teams with trained dogs to detect poison and introduce measures to reduce electrocutions and collisions with power lines and wind turbines. It will also address exposure to lead and certain veterinary medicines.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe success of the reintroduction depends on the birds adapting to their new environment and on reducing the risks they face after release,\u201d said Sebastian Bugariu, a biologist with the Romanian Ornithological Society.
\n\u201cGPS monitoring will help us identify the areas they use for feeding and resting and adjust conservation measures based on field data,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Preparations began in 2023 with a feasibility study and a partnership with the Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park administration. A survey of 375 people in eight nearby communities conducted in 2024 found that 71% supported the return of the griffon vulture.<\/p>\n

The release site was selected in Ob\u00e2r\u0219ia-Clo\u0219ani, where Rewilding Romania signed a partnership with the local authorities in 2025. The organization said that it also plans to work with residents and farmers on education and explore opportunities for nature-based tourism.<\/p>\n

The project has an estimated eligible budget of EUR 7.56 million. The European Union will contribute up to EUR 4.53 million through its LIFE program, representing 60% of the eligible costs.<\/p>\n

Rewilding Romania is implementing the program with the Romanian Ornithological Society, Spain-based wildlife organization GREFA, and the Vulture Conservation Foundation. Rewilding Europe and Romania\u2019s Environment Ministry are associated partners.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RewildingRomania\/posts\/pfbid0yc4zp1YcABWjr7V51LJJSkUMi5LWq4XKzAuhP6fqjCToUnSNy5bUR6AeXoPxFP5Al<\/a><\/p>\n

Back in March, 25 griffon vultures arrived in Romania<\/a> and were placed in an acclimatization aviary near the commune of Ruc\u0103r in Arge\u0219 county, marking the start of a long-term effort to reintroduce the species in the F\u0103g\u0103ra\u0219 Mountains.\u00a0They were the first group brought under a reintroduction program developed by the Conservation Carpathia Foundation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At least 170 griffon and 24 cinereous vultures will be reintroduced into the southwestern Carpathians by 2033 under a new conservation program. Rewilding Romania\u2019s seven-year LIFE for Vultures project will begin with the griffon species before expanding to the cinereous one, according to a press release. The program will run until September 30, 2033, around […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12915\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ofero.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}