Three young griffon vultures, recently fledged, have been rescued in recent weeks in various locations in northwestern Sardinia . After being transferred to the Bonassai Wildlife Recovery Center, their condition is gradually improving, and if treatment proves successful, the animals will be able to return to the wild.
The first two interventions were carried out in the Bosa area by the Forestry and Environmental Protection Corps. One of the specimens had been identified in the Capo Marrargiu area and was recovered during an operation conducted by sea . The second was found near the Bosa dam.
Both were severely debilitated and dehydrated. After recovery, they were transported to the Bonassai facility , managed by the Forestas Agency, where veterinarians and technicians administered the necessary supportive therapies. The treatments are producing positive results, and the two young birds of prey's condition is reported to be significantly improving.
The third griffon vulture, rescued at Capo Caccia after falling into the sea, is also being recovered. The Forestry Corps intervened to rescue the animal and transport it to Bonassai, where it was immediately taken care of by specialized personnel and given the necessary care.
These incidents confirm the importance of prompt action throughout the rescue chain, especially in the period following flight. In young birds, inexperience and disorientation can lead to accidents and difficult situations. Reports from citizens are crucial , followed by the intervention of the Forestry Corps and subsequent veterinary assistance.
The recoveries occurred in the area representing the species' main stronghold on the island. According to the 2025 census, between 516 and 566 griffon vultures live in Sardinia, an increase of more than 21 percent compared to the previous year. In the northwestern area, 120 territorial pairs were identified: 104 in the Bosano area and 16 in the Alghero area. Compared to 2024, the number of egg laying operations and fledging young also increased.
The protection of the species is part of the European project Life Safe for Vultures , coordinated by the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Sassari with the participation of Forestas, the Forestry Corps, E-Distribuzione, and the Vulture Conservation Foundation. The program aims to consolidate the population in the north-west and promote the stable return of the griffon vulture to other areas of Sardinia.
A significant result concerns the southeast of the island, where the acclimatization aviary and feeding station at Cea Romana, in the Villasalto area, are contributing to the formation of a new nucleus of the species. In the 2025 census, a total of 25 griffon vultures were identified in southeast Sardinia , confirming the raptor's progressive establishment in the Sarrabus-Gerrei area as well.