Bearded vultures re-established in the Alps

A successful international project to reintroduce the bearded vulture to the Alps has been concluded after 22 years.

The last bird will be released this week, one of more than 150 introduced into the wild since 1986 in Switzerland, France, Italy and Austria.

“The goal of establishing a self-sufficient population of bearded vultures in the Alps has been reached,” conservation specialist Chaspar Buchli said.

The bearded vulture disappeared from the Alps in the 19th century, with the last breeding pair recorded in 1885.

With a wingspan of up to 2.8 metres, this huge bird of prey is the rarest species of the four vultures found in Europe.