Foundation Conservation Carpathia, in partnership with ING Bank Romania and a consortium formed by the communes of Lerești, Rucăr and Valea Mare Pravăț, together with the Argeș Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate, is taking a major step towards restoring biodiversity in the Făgăraș Mountains and is preparing for the reintroduction of the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), a species that has been extinct from Romania’s fauna for more than 70 years. The project marks the first initiative of its kind in Romania, carried out through a unique collaboration between conservation organisations, local authorities and communities in Argeș, based on a complex scientific programme and in partnership with international experts.
The Return of a Species Lost for Over Half a Century
After more than 70 years of absence from Romania’s fauna, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is set to return to the Făgăraș Mountains. The species disappeared in the mid-20th century due to direct persecution, being hunted and shot because it was considered harmful, as well as due to poisoning and the collection of eggs for private collections.
The first griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) will be brought from Spain, with the support of partners from the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), one of Europe’s most experienced organisations in vulture conservation and reintroduction. The birds to be brought are young individuals that will undergo an acclimatisation period of approximately six months in a specially designed aviary in the Rucăr area, Argeș County.
The reintroduction of griffon vultures will take place in several stages, in collaboration with Romanian and international experts, based on scientific studies and in line with European standards.
If all administrative and logistical conditions are met as planned, the first birds are expected to arrive in Romania in the coming months. After an acclimatisation period, the vultures will be gradually released into the wild, where they typically remain close to the release area and periodically return to the feeding site.
Romania is the last country in the European Union where all four vulture species once bred, yet it has not implemented reintroduction programmes for these species until now. Through this project, Romania joins European efforts to restore vulture populations and follows the example of countries that have successfully reintroduced or strengthened existing populations — from griffon vultures in Spain, France and Bulgaria to bearded vultures in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.
A Strong Collaboration for Nature and Communities
The reintroduction of the griffon vulture is made possible through an extensive collaboration between local and international partners. In Romania, the initiative is supported by the Milvus Group Association, while at local level a consortium has been formed between the communes of Lerești, Rucăr and Valea Mare Pravăț, alongside the Argeș Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate, all contributing to the effective implementation of the programme.
The creation of this consortium is a first for Romania and reflects how nature conservation can become a source of local development. The project brings direct benefits to the communities involved — from job creation and nature-based tourism development to strengthening the region’s image as a natural destination of European value.
“The reintroduction of the griffon vulture is proof that people and nature can work together towards the same goal: restoring a lost balance,” said Barbara and Christoph Promberger, Executive Directors of Foundation Conservation Carpathia. “The fact that this project is being carried out together with a consortium of local communities from Argeș shows how essential the support of those living close to nature truly is. In the Făgăraș Mountains, this species will once again become part of a complete and functional ecosystem, and a symbol of the coexistence between conservation and the development of local communities. We believe that true success is not only the return of a species, but the revival of a relationship between people and nature.”
Collaboration with the private sector, along with the involvement of local communities, offers a concrete example of how partnerships can support nature restoration and the sustainable development of mountain regions.
“The reintroduction of the griffon vulture in the Făgăraș Mountains is an important moment for Romania’s biodiversity and proof that when science, communities and business work together, nature has a real chance to recover,” said Marius Gavrea, Sustainability Manager, ING Bank Romania. “Healthy and complete ecosystems are the foundation of a sustainable economy and a future in harmony with nature. At ING, through our strategic Climate and Biodiversity pillar, we believe that real progress is measured through positive environmental impact and responsibility towards future generations.”
At the same time, Foundation Conservation Carpathia will build a Vulture Visitor Centre — Casa Vulturului — in Valea Mare Pravăț, Argeș County. It will be part of the growing network of visitor centres in the Făgăraș Mountains built by Foundation Conservation Carpathia, alongside the Beaver Centre in Rucăr and the Bison Centre in Lerești. Together, these centres transform the region into a place where nature can be experienced up close and where visitors can observe wildlife in its natural environment. The visitor centres help promote the region as a representative area for the biodiversity of the Făgăraș Mountains and as an example of harmony between communities and nature.
“For Valea Mare Pravăț, this project is an opportunity to sustainably harness the nature that surrounds us,” said Petre Ionel Boncoi, Mayor of Valea Mare Pravăț. “The reintroduction of the griffon vulture brings not only a species long lost, but also new perspectives for the community — from tourism and education to jobs. The construction of the Vulture Visitor Centre here, in Valea Mare Pravăț, will turn the area into a destination for those who want to discover the biodiversity of the Făgăraș Mountains and better understand the role of nature in our lives.”
The Griffon Vulture – Nature’s Sanitiser and Guardian of Ecological Balance
The griffon vulture is a true sanitiser of nature. By feeding on the carcasses of dead animals, the bird helps cleanse the natural environment and prevent the spread of diseases. At the same time, it contributes to the rapid recycling of nutrients in nature, transforming organic remains into resources that sustain entire ecosystems.
The presence of the griffon vulture indicates a healthy and balanced natural environment, with extensive habitats and rich wildlife. Protected at European level, the griffon vulture is proof of how nature can regain its equilibrium when given the right support.
Reintroducing this species to the Făgăraș Mountains will restore an essential ecological function — that of cleaning and maintaining the balance of nature — and will contribute to the long-term health of the ecosystem. These birds pose no threat to livestock or people, as they feed exclusively on carrion.
At the same time, their presence will create new opportunities for local communities through responsible nature tourism, environmental education and activities dedicated to wildlife observation.
The Griffon Vulture Returns to Romania’s Fauna
Adult griffon vultures are recognisable by their white head, broad wings and short tail. They have a white ruff of feathers at the base of the neck and a pale yellow bill. Their plumage is generally light beige, while the flight feathers are darker — a contrast that becomes especially striking when the bird is soaring.
A griffon vulture weighs between 6 and 11 kilograms, measures 93–122 centimetres in body length and has a wingspan of 2.4–2.8 metres. The female lays a single egg per year, and both parents care for the chick until it becomes independent.
This species inhabits wide and open areas, from plains to mountain regions, and is often observed at altitudes ranging from sea level to 3,000 metres. It prefers cliffs and steep slopes for nesting but spends most of its time soaring at great heights, using warm air currents to travel effortlessly. Today, griffon vultures are only occasionally seen in Romania, over the Carpathians or in the steppe regions of the south-east.
They are social birds, forming groups and gathering around food sources or roosting sites. They emit guttural or hissing sounds when in colonies or during feeding. They are generally sedentary, but some populations may be nomadic or migratory, depending on food availability.
The species is widely distributed across southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and western Asia, and is present from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caucasus Mountains. Stable populations can be found in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Cyprus, Turkey, Israel and Morocco, where they nest on rocky cliffs and feed in open nearby areas.
Although Romanians commonly use the generic term “vulture” to refer to all large birds of prey, often confusing them with eagles, there are important differences between the two: both are diurnal raptors belonging to the Accipitridae family, but eagles hunt live prey, whereas vultures are strictly scavengers, feeding exclusively on dead animals and usually reaching larger body sizes.
A New Stage in a Broader Vision for the Făgăraș Mountains
The reintroduction of the griffon vulture represents a new stage in the wide-ranging ecological restoration programme initiated by Foundation Conservation Carpathia in 2020 — an effort that has already generated tangible benefits for communities in the Făgăraș Mountains. The return of bison to three areas in the south-east of the massif has become a source of local identity. In Lerești, the local football team now bears the name AS Zimbrii Lerești, symbolising the community’s connection to the surrounding nature.
At the same time, the reintroduction of beavers to the area’s rivers, after more than a century, contributes to ecosystem restoration and improved water management. In the commune of Nucșoara, a thematic trail inaugurated in 2025 tells the story of the return of these species, while the visitor centres in Rucăr and Lerești have become gathering places for nature enthusiasts who come to discover the values of the Făgăraș Mountains.
If the griffon vulture reintroduction project succeeds, Foundation Conservation Carpathia aims during the next few years to create the conditions for the return of two other vulture species extinct from Romania’s fauna — the cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) and the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus).
Through this initiative, Foundation Conservation Carpathia and its partners aim to restore an essential part of the natural balance of the Făgăraș Mountains and to provide a concrete example of collaboration between science, communities and conservation.
