A team from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB/BirdLife Bulgaria) has ringed and tagged the two Cinereous Vulture juveniles hatched this year in the Bulgarian part of the Eastern Rhodopes with GPS/GSM satellite transmitters. These are the first chicks of the species to hatch in the region in more than 30 years.
The Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation, in partnership with leading scientists and conservationists, is launching a large-scale initiative to survey obsolete artificial barriers along the Arda River in Bulgaria.
We are pleased to announce that three project proposals have been awarded grants for the implementation of Replication Projects under the open call launched within the framework of the LIFE Rhodope Vulture project.
REWILDING RHODOPES FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
NEW DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: 24TH NOVEMBER 2025 – 18.00 H. CET
ALL THE REMAINING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OPEN CALL STAY THE SAME.
Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation announces:
OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Nine European bison – seven females and two males – were released into the wild in the Zhenda area, part of the 3,800-hectare Zhenda rewilding site in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains near Kardzhali. The initiative is led by the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation, in partnership with the Zhenda State Hunting Enterprise and with the support of international partners.
The return of wildlife in the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria marks another exciting step forward. In June, eight more European bison were introduced in two stages to “Zhenda” – one of the priority landscapes for the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation. The European bison is one of the endangered large herbivores and a symbol of the rewilding efforts in Europe.
A significant milestone in the efforts to restore the Cinereous vulture in the Rhodopes was achieved earlier with the release of a third group of birds in the Eastern Rhodopes. The teams of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation successfully released new birds, bringing the total number of Cinereous vultures released to 23.
At the end of last week, experts, veterinarians, and volunteers from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), Green Balkans, RIEW Haskovo, and GREFA participated in the marking and transmitter fitting of a total of eight black vultures in the adaptation aviary near Madzharovo.
On March 22-23, 2025, the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation organized a celebration of World Rewilding Day in the village of Mandritsa.
