Vultures are one of the groups most in danger of disappearing and their presence as a “cleaning team” is vital for the balance of biodiversity.
Every year, On the first Saturday of the month of September, International Vulture Day is commemorated. to draw attention to the need to conserve these birds throughout the world, since their population is in a very worrying decline. Vultures are one of the most endangered groups on the planet, of the 23 species that exist in the world, 11 are African and 7 of the latter are in danger of extinction according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list.
Spain is the largest European refuge for these giants of the sky and BIOPARC is home to 5 of the 11 African species.
80% of Europe's griffon and black vultures live in Spain and the main danger that they face is derived from human action: the collisions with electrical towers and wind turbines of wind farms, the food shortage in the countryside due to the decline of wildlife, poisoning of dead animals and diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory veterinary medicine. Given this situation, it is urgent, “take action” with measures that prevent the disappearance of these giants from the sky whose activity is vital in ecosystems. the vultures They make up the natural “cleaning team” and are keys to our health since they are capable of decomposing some bacteria such as anthrax spores. In the same way that we cannot imagine a city without a garbage service, it is impossible to conceive the balance of biodiversity without the role of vultures. Only by considering them an essential part of our planet and implementing effective measures for their protection can we avoid their extinction.
On the occasion of International Vulture Day, it is necessary to denounce that human action is its main threat: electrical towers, wind farms, lack of food and poisoning.
BIOPARC Valencia hosts 5 of the 11 African vulture species, the first 3 in critical danger of extinction: the whiteback (Gyps africanus), White head (Trigonoceps occipitalis), tawny (Gyps fulvus), clapper (Gypohierax angolensis) and hooded (Necrosyrtes monachus). We can contemplate them and admire its impressive flight in the educational exhibition “The cycle of life” in order to understand your fundamental role in the fragile natural balance. Equipped with a robust beak, they are capable of opening the corpses until they insert their head to feed, avoiding getting dirty with their peculiar neck devoid of feathers. By removing the remains of dead animals from the environment, they hinder the spread of all types of bacteria, thus preventing the spread of diseases.
Again, BIOPARC Valencia calls for action to protect vultures and joins the “conservationist cry” that aims to awaken humanity to provoke a change of attitude in our behaviors and motivate a modification in our development towards sustainability. Today more than ever, our future and that of life on the planet as we know it is in our hands.
