Sardinia Brings 500+ Griffon Vultures Back From 60

Just over a decade ago, only 60 griffon vultures remained on the Italian island of Sardinia, clinging to survival on a single stretch of coastline. Today, more than 500 of these massive scavenger birds soar across the island's skies.

The vultures nearly disappeared because of toxic food sources. The birds accidentally ate pesticides, chemicals, and lead shot while feeding on carcasses of wild animals killed by hunters.

Some locals also killed the vultures directly, even though the birds posed no threat to people or livestock. By 2014, the entire population lived in one small colony between Bosa and Alghero on the west coast.

Losing these birds would have created dangerous ripple effects. Griffon vultures clean up dead animals, removing bacteria that could spread disease to other wildlife.

In 2015, conservationists launched a rescue mission funded by the European Commission. The "Life Under Griffon Wings" project created safe feeding stations called carnai where vultures could eat without risk of poisoning.

Teams also made power lines safer so birds wouldn't get electrocuted. They worked with hunters to switch to lead-free ammunition.

A second project called "Life Safe for Vultures" started in 2021 with over $3 million in funding. Partners included the University of Sassari, local forestry agencies, and the Vulture Conservation Foundation.

The teams brought in young vultures from Spanish rescue centers to boost numbers and spread the population across the island. The last 15 birds arrived from Barcelona in January and are preparing for release into the wild.

The Ripple Effect

The latest count shows between 516 and 566 griffon vultures now call Sardinia home. That's a 21 percent jump from just last year.

The birds are spreading out too. While 60 percent still live near Bosa, new colonies are growing in central and southern Sardinia.

Breeding pairs have increased by 14 percent in the past year, with 120 territorial pairs counted in 2025. The number of baby vultures that successfully fledged also rose by 15 percent.

Even better, the rescued birds from Spain are pairing up with native Sardinian vultures and raising families together. The species is truly coming home.

Conservationists now have an ambitious goal: connecting the northern populations with new nesting sites in southern Sardinia, creating a network of thriving vulture communities across the entire island.