Söder Releases a Bearded Vulture Into the Wild: Remarkable Creatures

Protecting and preserving the natural environment - Söder Releases a Bearded Vulture Into the Wild: Remarkable Creatures

At Berchtesgaden National Park, two young bearded vultures, Wiggerl and Vinzenz, have been relocated to a rocky nest site for the fourth time since 2021. These young males moved into their new home in the Klausbach Valley, where their kind had previously made their first flight attempts. The birds, approximately three months old and weighing six kilograms, were carried by employees of the Bavarian Nature Conservation Association (LBV) and the National Park to their protected enclosures at an altitude of approximately 1300 meters.

In about four weeks, these vultures are expected to start their flight practices. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder personally announced the names of the two birds, which hold cultural significance: Vinzenz is named after the local saint of Ramsau, while Wiggerl refers to the diminutive form of Ludwig, the name of the Bavarian fairy tale king. However, Wiggerl wasn't born in Bavaria; instead, he comes from a breeding program in Finland. Vinzenz is from Austria.

Söder expressed his excitement about the event, "The naming ceremony for Wiggerl and Vinzenz was a heartwarming moment filled with joy and humility. #BeardedVultures are extraordinary creatures." This unique reintroduction project revolves around wildlife conservation and species protection.

The previous released vultures, Bavaria and Wally, came from Spain in 2021. Their successors - Dagmar and Recka - also originated from Spain, with Dagmar being the cousin of Bavaria and Recka the sister of Wally, who was killed by a rock. Sisi and Nepomuk, the first male, have been brought from Austria in 2023. To avoid inbreeding, it's great to have a bird from Finland now, said LBV bearded vulture expert Toni Wegscheider.

The young vultures weigh almost six kilograms, close to the weight of giant babies. Most three-month-old birds weigh around five kilograms. Currently, they receive baby food, such as inedible meat from hunted animals, primarily deer. Their initial meal after their perilous journey involved meat on deer bones, which were placed close to the nest. In a few months, they will almost exclusively consume bones.

To monitor the vultures' progress, fans can observe them live on a webcam. In addition, the birds are fitted with GPS transmitters, making it possible to track their flights later.

The aim is to promote the central European population of these birds of prey through reintroduction projects. "We plan to continue reintroducing until the birds can reproduce independently," stated Wegscheider.

The birds are sexually mature between five and seven years of age, but it is not anticipated that breeding success will occur in the German Alps before 2030. Bearded vultures have an impressive wingspan of up to 2.90 meters, making them among the world's largest flying creatures. They were on the verge of extinction a century ago. In 1879, the last bird was shot in Germany - less than a kilometer away from where the young birds were released at Hintersee in Ramsau. People previously labeled them as dangerous and believed they would throw lambs into the abyss. In reality, however, they are harmless to humans and animals and only consume carrion.

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1. The relocation of the bearded vultures in Berchtesgaden National Park is part of a nature conservation effort in Upper Bavaria, Germany.
2. Markus Söder, the Prime Minister of Bavaria, expressed his enthusiasm for the growth of the bearded vulture population, highlighting their significance in wildlife conservation.
3. The project to reintroduce bearded vultures in Berchtesgaden National Park involves birds from various European countries, such as Finland and Austria.
4. The LBV, a Bavarian nature conservation association, plays a crucial role in the process, ensuring the well-being and protection of these vultures.
5. The Bavarian prime minister named the two young vultures, Wiggerl and Vinzenz, after cultural figures, reflecting the importance of the conservation project in local communities.
6. The success of the reintroduction project in Berchtesgaden National Park has the potential to contribute to the overall growth of the bearded vulture population in Central Europe, potentially avoiding inbreeding.
7. Science plays a vital role in the conservation effort, with researchers analyzing the behavior and diet of the reintroduced vultures to optimize the project's success.
8. The reintroduction of bearded vultures serves not only to enhance biodiversity within Berchtesgaden National Park but also to promote the rich natural heritage of Germany and neighboring countries, such as Austria and Finland.

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