Conservation of the Eurasian Black Vulture Aegypius monachus ex situ

Programme Coordinator – Alexey Kovalenko, Moscow Zoo, Russia

The Eurasian black vulture Aegypius monachus is a member of Accipitridae family in the order Falconiformes. The species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is included in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). The range of the Eurasian black vulture covers mountain and foothill areas in Eurasia and the north of Morocco in Africa. In Europe, these birds are found in Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, and northern Caucasus, while in Asia, they range in all major mountain systems. The global population size is estimated at 15,600–21,000 adult individuals or 7,800–10,500 pairs, which include 2,300–2,500 pairs in Europe and 5,500-8,000 pairs in Asia (Anon. 2004).

As of 2025, black vultures were kept in 17 EARAZA institutions. The total population consists of
57 (21.29.7) birds.

The programme is aimed at the creation and management of the sustainable, genetically healthy
population of the Eurasian black vulture at EARAZA zoos and breeding centres.

Programme objectives:

1. Developing a strategy for establishing an ex situ population of the Eurasian black vulture; collection of data on the age–sex structure and the number of bird pairs in the EARAZA population;
2. Research aimed at improving the welfare of the black vultures in captivity, as well as during rehabilitation and reintroduction; development and use of feeding, housing and breeding methods that promote natural behaviors of the birds;
3. Monitoring of validated data on the housing and reproduction of black vultures and circulation of new information among the participants of the program;
4. Conservation education;
5. Exchange of information with specialists from the strictly protected areas and, if necessary, the use of black vultures from the ex situ population in reintroduction projects.