Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures

Why a rescue centre?

By means of a decision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy, Beli Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures is the only registered griffon vulture rescue centre in the Republic of Croatia, which means that it plays an important role in the further preservation and care for this strictly protected species. The need for a rescue centre is great, because every year on average ten griffon vultures get hurt and are brought to the Rescue Centre. These are mostly young and inexperienced birds which fall out of their nests into the sea beneath the cliffs during their first few flights in the summer months, and are then saved and brought to the Rescue Centre for treatment. However, sometimes even adult vultures can be found injured, exhausted or malnourished and are brought to recuperate in Beli. After receiving the required treatment in the Centre, the birds are released back into the wild.

By means of a decision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy, Beli Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures is the only registered griffon vulture rescue centre in the Republic of Croatia, which means that it plays an important role in the further preservation and care for this strictly protected species. The need for a rescue centre is great, because every year on average ten griffon vultures get hurt and are brought to the Rescue Centre. These are mostly young and inexperienced birds which fall out of their nests into the sea beneath the cliffs during their first few flights in the summer months, and are then saved and brought to the Rescue Centre for treatment. However, sometimes even adult vultures can be found injured, exhausted or malnourished and are brought to recuperate in Beli. After receiving the required treatment in the Centre, the birds are released back into the wild.

Each rescued griffon vulture is important for the population, because they reach their sexual maturity only at the age of five and produce only one egg a year, and the mortality of young vultures in their first year is a staggering 75%. Therefore, all activities connected to rescuing the birds, allowing them to recover and then releasing them into the wild have a positive effect on the population.

Every rescued and recovered vulture gets another chance of life, which is a significant effort in the endeavour to preserve griffon vultures in Croatia. Before being released, the birds are ringed or marked with a GPS transmitter, which helps to keep track of them and how they get along in the wild.




VULTURE IN TROUBLE – CALL 112!


If you come across a griffon vulture in trouble (e.g. one that is floating in the sea or cannot fly, is exhausted, or acting strangely), it is extremely important to call the emergency telephone number 112. Your information will be forwarded either to Priroda Public Institution (091 1352-400, 091 2352-400) or the Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures in Beli (091 184 0525, 095 506 1116).

If you find a griffon vulture in the sea, it is necessary to remove the bird from the water as soon as possible and to deliver it to the Rescue Centre in Beli.

We would particularly like to thank the local people and individuals who actively participate in rescuing griffon vultures. The majority of the birds are saved only by the quick intervention of good people, which attests to the level of awareness and engagement of the community in the preservation of this species.


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