Bearded Vulture: No Release in the Alps in 2022

The canton of Nidwalden is also supporting the bearded vulture reintroduction project.

In return, the responsible foundation Pro Bartgeier has granted the canton naming rights for a «Nidwalden Bearded Vulture». Since too few young birds have recently been produced by the international breeding programme, the planned release must now be postponed until next year.

Thanks to an internationally coordinated reintroduction project, the endangered bearded vulture has once again become established in the Alps. However, the genetic basis of the wild population is still too narrow. To bring the project to a successful conclusion, bearded vultures from rare genetic lines are regularly released into the wild in Switzerland.

Last year, the canton of Nidwalden pledged a contribution of 30’000 francs from the cantonal lottery fund to the Bearded Vulture Foundation, which is responsible for species-appropriate releases in Switzerland, and subsequently held a public naming competition for the «Nidwalden Bearded Vulture». «Nina» and «Marco» won the race, inspired by Nidwalden’s Olympic champions Nina Christen (shooting) and Marco Odermatt (skiing).

Too few young birds available

It had been planned to release «Nina» or «Marco» — the sex had not yet been determined at the time of the naming competition — on Melchsee-Frutt between May and July 2022. This date must now be postponed to next year. No suitable animal can be provided from the internationally organised conservation breeding programme involving more than 40 zoos and breeding stations, as only a few chicks hatched from the eggs and some of them died in their first days of life. Since a sufficient number of young animals must be retained in the breeding programme, no release will take place in Switzerland this year.

«We deeply regret this. But a postponement is not a cancellation. The Bearded Vulture Foundation Pro Bartgeier has signaled to us that the chances of a ‘Nidwalden Bearded Vulture’ are even higher next year, which of course gives us great confidence», says Karin Kayser-Frutschi, Director of Justice and Security. «If it serves the reintroduction program and thus the preservation of this majestic bird in our Alpine region, we are happy to accept this waiting period», adds the Landammann.