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Two griffin vultures and two eagle-owls, nursed back to health in the Centre for the Recovery of Threatened Species (C.R.E.A.) in Los Villares, Córdoba, were released back into the wild on Friday.
The centre's purpose is to help wild animals and birds that are injured or in danger. Since the beginning of the year, 655 specimens have been taken in to be cared for at the centre, over half of which have recovered well enough to be re-released back into their natural habitat.
One of the griffin vultures released last week was brought into the centre in May with a deep chest wound, but after intensive care, continued treatment and then exercise in the centre's 'flying gym', it managed to regain its lost muscle mass and complete its rehabilitation. The other griffin vulture was brought in in October in a very weak condition and suffering from malnutrition and it too has spent months together with others of its kind in the 'flying gym' recovering and exercising.
The eagle-owls have also recovered well from their injuries. One of them had a fractured carpal-metacarpal joint and the other was brought into the centre with lengths of barbed wire incrusted in its skin and numerous open wounds, which have since healed completely.
Giuseppe Aloisio, the regional minister for Sustainable Development, underlined "the important work carried out by staff at the Environment Agency, who are responsible for collecting, watching over and transporting the injured animals and birds to the recovery centre" adding that "without them, it would be impossible to nurse these species back to health and release them back into the wild."
The release took place at the Monte Picacho viewpoint close to the Virgen de la Sierra hermitage in Cabra, an ideal location thanks to its elevated position which allows the birds to soar high and orientate themselves more easily.
Furthermore, the hermitage stands in the Sierras Subbéticas nature reserve, which is both an area of Special Protection for birdlife (ZEPA) and a Special Consertation area (ZEC) and is the perfect habitat for these two species, boasting a large griffin vulture colony for the newly released birds to join.
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