Bearded Vulture Chick Born After 69 Years

Cantabria has witnessed a historical milestone successful conservation pinch nan successful commencement and endurance of a ‘Quebrantahuesos’ (bearded vulture) chick successful nan chaotic for nan first clip successful 69 years. The chick, named “Candela,” marks a important measurement guardant successful nan betterment efforts of this critically endangered type successful nan Picos de Europa upland range.

According to reports from nan Fundación para la Conservación del Quebrantahuesos (FCQ), Candela was calved successful February 2025 successful nan region of Liébana, located wrong Cantabria. After astir 125 days of observant nurturing, Candela has successfully taken flight, becoming nan first chick of her benignant to past and fledge successful nan area since nan 1950s. The parents of Candela are 2 big bearded vultures named Biziele and Niebla. Both were released successful nan Picos de Europa arsenic portion of a reintroduction programme aimed astatine establishing a self-sustaining organization of these majestic birds successful bluish Spain. The FCQ has been coordinating nan reintroduction efforts successful collaboration pinch nan Government of Cantabria, nan Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition, and section councils specified arsenic nan Ayuntamiento de Potes.

The bearded vulture vanished from Cantabria almost 7 decades agone owed to quality persecution, residence loss, poisoning, and collisions pinch infrastructure for illustration powerfulness lines. The betterment programme began much than 15 years agone and includes residence restoration, mitigation of threats, and nan merchandise of captive-bred individuals. Candela’s successful fledging is regarded by experts arsenic a turning point. Not only does it show that nan released adults person adapted good to their environment, but it besides demonstrates nan viability of earthy reproduction wrong nan Cantabrian territory. According to nan FCQ, nan organization of bearded vultures successful nan Picos de Europa now exceeds 40 individuals, making it 1 of nan astir important reintroduced populations successful Europe.

The conservation task involves respective cardinal strategies. Among them are nan betterment of habitats, nan installation of artificial nests, and organization engagement pinch section farmers and livestock owners. The Pro-Biodiversity trademark inaugural rewards farmers who support wildlife conservation, helping to build a sustainable coexistence betwixt humans and protected species.

The FCQ has stressed that nan endurance of Candela is not only important connected a section level but besides contributes to nan broader extremity of connecting nan fragmented bearded vulture populations successful Spain. The beingness of a viable breeding brace and their chick successful Cantabria brings renewed dream for expanding nan species’ scope crossed nan bluish Iberian Peninsula. Authorities person besides noted nan value of continued vigilance against threats that still impact vultures. While poisoning incidents person decreased acknowledgment to consciousness campaigns and enforcement, different dangers specified arsenic collisions pinch powerfulness lines and residence disturbances stay concerns.

The location Government of Cantabria has expressed restitution pinch nan result of nan semipermanent project. In an charismatic statement, location officials highlighted Candela’s endurance arsenic impervious of effective collaboration betwixt conservationists, nationalist administrations, and agrarian communities.Currently, nan FCQ and Cantabrian authorities proceed to show Candela done GPS search and section observations to guarantee her adjustment to independency successful nan wild. Plans are underway to proceed reinforcing nan section organization pinch further releases and ongoing protection measures. This landmark accomplishment underscores nan value of sustained conservation efforts and multi-agency practice successful reversing nan diminution of threatened species. The successful reproduction of bearded vultures successful Cantabria aft astir 7 decades is being celebrated arsenic a affirmative illustration of really dedicated conservation strategies tin lead to tangible successes successful European biodiversity recovery.