Sardinia's Griffon Vultures Soar Back From the Brink: From 60 to 500+ Birds

In 2014, Sardinia's griffon vulture population had collapsed to just 60 individuals. The majestic birds, with wingspans of up to 2.8 meters, were being slowly poisoned into extinction by pesticides, lead shot, and chemicals they ingested from scavenged carcasses. Today, that same population has swelled to over 500 birds — one of Italy's greatest conservation success stories.

From Crisis to Comeback

The Eurasian griffon vulture is a keystone species in Mediterranean ecosystems. These massive birds serve as nature's cleanup crew, disposing of carcasses and preventing the spread of dangerous bacteria that could cause infectious diseases in other animals.

But by the early 2010s, Sardinia's vultures were vanishing. The causes were heartbreaking:

• Indirect poisoning from pesticides and chemicals in animals they fed on
• Lead shot from wild boar killed by hunters
• Direct culling despite the birds posing no threat to humans or livestock
• Electrocution from unsafe power lines

By 2014, the entire population — just 60 birds — clung to survival in a small area between Bosa and Alghero on Sardinia's west coast. Extinction seemed inevitable.

A Bold Plan Takes Flight

In 2015, hope arrived in the form of a European Commission-funded project called "Life Under Griffon Wings." The initiative focused on three core strategies:

1. Increasing food availability through safe feeding stations
2. Reducing disturbances in nesting areas
3. Raising public awareness about the vultures' ecological importance

When that project ended in 2020, a sister initiative launched. "Life Safe for Vultures" brought together the University of Sassari, the Forestas Agency, the Sardinian Forestry Corps, and the Vulture Conservation Foundation, backed by over €3 million in funding.

The Recovery Strategy

The conservation teams deployed multiple tactics:

🦴 Safe Feeding Stations (Carnai):
Designated areas provide vultures with guaranteed clean food sources — fresh carcasses free of pesticides, lead, and chemicals. These stations eliminate the dangerous guesswork of scavenging in a contaminated landscape.

⚡ Power Line Safety:
Working with utility companies, conservationists modified power lines in key vulture territory to prevent electrocution — a leading cause of mortality for large raptors.

🎯 Hunter Education:
An outreach campaign encouraged hunters to switch to lead-free ammunition. When vultures feed on hunter-killed animals, lead fragments in the meat can cause fatal poisoning. Lead-free alternatives eliminate this risk entirely.

🐣 Population Reinforcement:
Young griffon vultures from rescue centers in Spain were carefully released into areas of Sardinia where the species had been absent for decades. The goal: not just more vultures, but vultures spread across more of the island.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The latest census is nothing short of remarkable:

Perhaps most encouraging: birds released from Spain are successfully pairing with native Sardinian vultures, creating the next generation of island-born chicks.

The Final Fifteen

In January 2026, the final 15 young griffon vultures arrived from Barcelona. They're currently acclimating in an aviary and will be released into the wild later this year.

While about 60% of Sardinia's vultures still live in the Bosa area, colonies are now growing in central and southern Sardinia too — exactly as conservationists hoped.

"The ultimate goal is ambitious: to extend the griffon vulture's range across the entire island, reconnecting the northern populations with new nesting sites in southern Sardinia."

— Forestas Agency

Why This Matters Beyond Sardinia

The Sardinian vulture recovery offers a blueprint for conservation success:

• Multi-pronged approach: Addressing food, safety, breeding, AND public awareness
• Long-term commitment: Two consecutive 5+ year projects
• Cross-border cooperation: Spain providing rescue birds to Italy
• Community engagement: Working with hunters rather than against them
• Measurable results: Clear census data tracking progress

In a world where so many species face decline, Sardinia's griffon vultures prove that determined, well-funded conservation can reverse even the steepest population crashes.

A Hopeful Horizon

From 60 to 500+. From one small coastal colony to expanding territory across the island. From the brink of extinction to one of Italy's conservation crown jewels.

The griffon vultures of Sardinia are soaring again — and their story reminds us that when humans commit to protecting wildlife, remarkable recoveries are possible.

The skies over Sardinia are proof: it's never too late to save a species.

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Sources: Euronews Green, La Repubblica, Life Safe for Vultures project. Published February 16-19, 2026.