A 36-year-old man has been detained in Karlovo after eight vultures and a raven were found dead from suspected poisoning in the Balkan Mountains near Botev Peak. Police said evidence of poisoning was discovered and the man confessed. He is being held for 24 hours and is expected to be charged.
The operation was conducted by officers from the Karlovo Regional Police Department and the National Police Directorate. The investigation is being carried out as pre-trial proceedings under the supervision of the Plovdiv District Prosecutor's Office, with all case materials submitted to prosecutors.
The first dead birds were discovered on August 18 in the Central Balkan National Park in the Kalofer area. A griffon vulture was later found in critical condition but died. In total, four black vultures, two griffon vultures, one bearded vulture and a raven were found dead.
The bearded vulture was particularly significant because it was the first bird of its species released into the wild as part of efforts to restore a species that had disappeared from Bulgaria. The bird, named Boev, had been released by the Green Balkans team last year.
The scale of the incident extended beyond the initial discovery. Dr. Hristina Klisurova of the Green Balkans Rescue Center said dead vultures had also been found in Vrachanski Balkan Park and near Madzharovo.
