The Bearded Vulture is one of the most endangered vulture species within its range in Europe. Thanks the long-running reintroduction programmmes the Bearded Vulture returns to the original area of habitation reduced drastically since the beginning of the 19th century.
Every year, several breeding centres and zoos, which became part of the European Endangered Species Programme, help in the reintroduction plans of Bearded Vultures into places of historical range for the species.
I visit Richard Faust Breeding Centre at Haringsee near Vienna. Europe´s largest vulture breeding station is managed by Dr. Hans Frey, who is an EAZA EEP coordinator and a board member of the Vulture Conservation Foundation. With his permission, I could observe the young Bearded Vultures, before they are released into the wild.