We are delighted to share an inspiring story of resilience, collaboration, and second chances. Over a year of dedicated cross-border teamwork has culminated in a heart-warming success: following a long and troublesome journey to Greece, severe challenges extensive rehabilitation process, the female cinereous vulture B14 healed and is now ready to return to the wild.
This long journey began in December 2023, when released just a month earlier went all the way to Greece. What followed was a challenging ordeal that left her fighting for survival. Under the care of Dimitris Vasilakis and his team from the Didymotycho Forest Service, B14 overcame severe lead poisoning through an extensive rehabilitation program.
B14’s story came to light on December 20, 2023, when the Bulgarian society for the protection of birds (BSPB) detected unusual GPS data from the Evros region. The young vulture, equipped with a GPS transmitter, was observed grounded in the village of Dikaia, signaling potential health issues. The Didymotycho Forest Service team acted immediately, setting out to locate and rescue her.
On the first night of the search, despite locating B14 near the village, she managed to fly east toward the Evros River. Guided by fresh GPS data, the rescue team persisted and found her the following day in a wheat field near the Arda River. However, careful nighttime attempts to secure her proved challenging, with B14 moving again to a nearby plowed field. On December 22, their perseverance paid off. A coordinated patrol finally located B14 in a thicket near Arzo, where she was successfully captured. Though weakened, she was in stable condition and was promptly transferred to a raptor enclosure in Dadia National Park, thanks to seamless coordination with the (NECCA).
This remarkable success would not have been possible without the collective effort of numerous organizations and individuals. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our Greek partners at MEEN, Didymotycho Forest Service, Dadia Lefkimi Soufli Forest National Park Management Unit of NECCA and for the valuable support of Attica Zoo, and the Cargo Management team of Athens Airport. Their dedication and expertise exemplify the power of international collaboration in conservation.
As B14 prepares to return to the wild, her story stands as a symbol of hope and a testament to what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause. We eagerly await the next chapter of her journey, as this majestic vulture takes to the skies once again.
Stay tuned for updates on B14’s progress and her inspiring flight into the future!