Egyptian Vulture family party found dead
A family of Egyptian Vultures has been found dead in Bulgaria, with poisoning suspected amid an ongoing investigation.
On the evening of 22 June, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) was informed that a dead vulture had been found near Madzharovo, in the Eastern Rhodopes – well-known as the raptor hot-spot in Bulgaria. The BSPB and local police went to the scene early the next morning and discovered that the dead bird was the female of one of the oldest and most productive pairs of Egyptian Vultures in the Eastern Rhodopes.
There are only 26 pairs of Egyptian Vulture left in Bulgaria (BSPB).
An inspection of the nest sadly revealed that the pair's chick was also dead. The analysis of the photos from the nest camera indicated that the parents brought food to the chick, and it died two hours after eating the food. The mother and father also disappeared from the nest on the 19 June and never returned.
The data, as well as the facts established around the carcass of the dead adult vulture, suggest that the death of the family was probably caused by poisoning. Egyptian Vultures are highly territorial birds that inhabit a small area and this suggests that the incident occurred within the surrounding four villages.
The BSPB team carried out a thorough inspection of the area, during which no carcasses of other wild and domestic animals were found. The case is being investigated, and the bird's carcass has been sent for laboratory analysis to confirm the cause of its death.
