After learning that a Griffon vulture was trapped near a powerline close to Galala Mountain, Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE) made moves to save the bird, and prepare for its safe return to nature. Affectionately, the male vulture was named Nisr by Dr. Sherif Bahaa Eldin, President of NCE.
Nisr’s rescue took place during a raptor count at Galala Observatory, a project by NCE aiming to establish a permanent station for monitoring and studying migratory birds.
For over a month, NCE, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and Galala University’s staff, nurtured Nisr, in a bid to ensure a successful rehabilitation process. After which, he was released to join the rest of the Griffons in their migration.
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“Nisr’s story is just another [source of] inspiration for our work. With more successful rehabilitation stories, we have the ability to become more experienced with the birds. Our mission is to make sure all the birds have a safe flyway to travel safely back and forth,” Nouran Tawfik, Communications Officer at NCE, told Egyptian Streets.
As Europe’s second-largest bird, the Griffon vulture is a rare breed of vulture eagle, with up to three meters of wingspan.
According to Galala Observatory, Egypt is home to a total of 1,258 Egyptian vultures. Spotting a Griffon vulture is a rare event region-wide, especially in Egypt due to threats of persecution, poisoning, and lack of food as a result of changing farming practices. On average, nearly 400 adult Griffon vultures exist in North Africa.
Today, over 50 percent of all vulture species are endangered, and in many regions they have gone extinct. Of the 22 vulture species, 14 are globally threatened with extinction.
NCE is committed to mitigating any risks or potential threats that these rare species might face. To learn more about NCE’s work, follow Nature Conservation Egypt on Instagram or visit their website here.
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