infoGIPETO n.37 |dicembre 2020

BREEDING NETWORK
RETE DI ALLEVAMENTO
demic negatively conditioned the final results but, considering the progressively increasing number
of breeding pairs, forecasts for the coming years are very positive (Figure 1). This positive trend
is supported by some news: 3 new pairs (in Asters Breeding Centre, Beauval zoo and Berlin zoo)
successfully bred in 2020, Berlin zoo breeding pair produced a fledgling for the first time, a new pair
laid an egg for the first time and 2 more started nest construction and mating rituals.
Losses - 4 bearded vultures died last year: a female at Tierpark Goldau (CH), a male in Richard
Faust Breeding Centre (AT), a male at ZooBotánico Jerez (ES) and a Pyrenean injured male in
Centre de Fauna Vallcalent (ES).
The 23 years old female (BG276) of Tierpark Goldau died on the 21st of July, drowning in the
water basin, after her beak got stuck in the ring. She was born in 1997 in Richard Faust Breeding
Centre, arrived in 1998 in Tierpark Goldau and was paired with the old male BG060. Because of
the low breeding success, in 2006 the female received a new male, BG145, but the situation did
not improve. Between 2002 and 2020, she produced 5 chicks only: one was released and the other
4 were included in the captive network.
On the 25th of July, a 5 year old imprinted male (BG1011) died in Richard Faust Breeding Centre,
because of aspergillosis. The bird was included in the EEP in 2019, after being alone all the previous
years.
On the 13 th of August, a 6 year old male (BG789) died in ZooBotánico Jerez, because of West Nile
Virus. After the first symptoms, the bird was treated for the infection, but it died anyway.
Finally, a Pyrenean wild-born adult, recovered at the Centre de Fauna Vallcalent, died on the 28th
of November. The bird was recovered in 2019, for an osteomyelitis with osteolysis on the left metatarsus-phalanx
joint. After the infection was taken under control, during summer 2020, they tried to
pair the bearded vulture with two different females. Unfortunately, at the beginning of October, the
bird developed a pododermatitis on both claws. After a 5-weeks intensive antibiotics treatment, he
suddenly stopped eating and died a week later. Necropsy and lab results are still pendent.
Increases - In 2020, in addition to the 4 birds from the breeding season, 2 others have been included
into the EEP. Sureau-BG1061, male released in Baronnies (FR), on the 2 nd of June fell from
the hacking cave during a light rain; the accident caused the open fracture of the left humerus. The
bird was brought to the recovery centre Goupil Connexion Center and the bone was well welded,
but the extension capacity of the wing had been permanently affected and the release appeared
impossible.
On the 24 th of September, Urrobi, an immature Pyrenean male born in 2019, was included in the
EEP. Indeed, on the 15 th of May, the bird was recovered in the Pyrenean French National Park
and transferred to Hegalaldia recovery centre, as it showed feather growing problems. Because
of its lack of capacity to adapt to the natural environment and of the tail feathers problems, it was
declared unrecoverable.
Transfers - In 2020, 4 birds have been transferred (3 males and 1 female) between 3 institutions,
in order to build 4 new breeding pairs. Centre de Fauna Vallcalent received an adult female from
Richard Faust Breeding Center. Asters Breeding Centre received a pair of immatures born in 2019:
the male came from Richard Faust Breeding Center and the female from Guadalentín Breeding
Centre. Prague zoo received a juvenile male from Guadalentín Breeding Centre. The transfer of
these 4 birds was carried out by Prague zoo staff, who travelled for almost 5000 km.
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