A cinereous vulture that survived the horrific mass poisoning incident in the Dadia Forest landed at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in the early hours of March 19, after traveling on the evening Aegean Airlines flight from Alexandroupoli, sent by the local NECCA Management Unit. It was immediately transported to ANIMA’s First Aid Station, where it began receiving intravenous fluids and medication to help it recover. By morning, the bird had regained its appetite and was eating, a very encouraging sign for its recovery.
Thankfully, after intensive IV therapy, the results were spectacular. On the evening of March 20, the cinereous vulture boarded a flight bound for Alexandroupoli, and the following day it was released in the Dadia Forest, in collaboration with the NECCA Management Unit. The reason for speeding up the whole process was the very real possibility that it had a nest that its mate might have abandoned if its absence dragged on.
We wholeheartedly thank Aegean Airlines for once again playing a decisive role in saving a creature of great importance to the biodiversity of Greece and all of Europe.
The cinereous vulture is now flying over the wonderful but long-suffering forest of Dadia, and may already be at its nest, where its mate was anxiously awaiting its return.
It goes without saying that placing poisoned baits in the forest is a terrible crime, especially at a time when these precious birds—having returned to their nests after the great shock of the forest fire—are incubating their eggs. Already, some nests are left with only one parent, and others perhaps with none at all.
We hope that the perpetrators will be found and punished severely so that this appalling practice will begin to decline.
