Eight vultures have died in a suspected poisoning incident in Bulgaria's Central Balkan National Park, including black and griffon vultures and the country's only bearded vulture, conservationists reported.
The first dead birds were discovered on August 18 in difficult-to-reach terrain at an altitude of more than 1,800 meters, near the winter trail leading to Botev Peak. The birds were scattered across an area of roughly half a square kilometer. One griffon vulture was initially found alive in critical condition but later died, bringing the total number of dead vultures to eight.
The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds said the presumed cause of death is poisoning. Four black vultures, two griffon vultures, the only bearded vulture in Bulgaria and a raven were found in the area. A cattle carcass was also discovered nearby and is believed to have been placed as poisoned bait intended for predators.
The incident was detected after a GPS transmitter on one of the black vultures sent a concerning signal. BSPB experts Dobromir Dobrev and Nikolay Terziev traveled to the location with Buddha, a specially trained dog used to detect poison in the wild. Representatives of the Central Balkan National Park Directorate, Karlovo police and the Plovdiv Regional State Fire Service also took part in the response.
