A blow to nature: Mass poisoning of vultures in Central Balkan

A tragic incident has shaken the conservation community – five vultures have been found dead or in critical condition in the "Central Balkan" National Park. The alert was raised by "Green Balkans" after the birds were discovered near the winter trail Panitsite – Botev Peak.

"This is a tremendous blow to nature, especially considering the 30-year efforts to restore the populations of these species in Bulgaria," experts commented.

Case details:

  • Victims: Three cinereous vultures and two griffon vultures.
  • Cause: Likely consumption of a poisonous bait placed next to a cow carcass.
  • Investigation: Police teams, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) are working on-site, including the use of specially trained dogs for detecting poisons.

Legal aspect and risks

The perpetrators face severe sanctions under the Penal Code, including up to 5 years of imprisonment and fines of up to 11,000 euros. The poisoning of wild animals is considered a crime with high public risk, as it threatens not only rare species but also human health.

Institutions remind the public that placing poisonous bait to control predators is illegal and ineffective, leading to secondary poisoning of valuable protected species.