The griffon vulture is the only of the four vulture species which inhabits Croatia, said Goran Susic, who heads the project. All four species of vultures inhabit only Spain and Turkey.
There were 90 pairs of griffon vultures in Croatia last year. Of that number, 60 inhabited the northern island of Cres, 20 the island of Prvic near the northern island of Krk, and 10 Krk.
Last year, 20 griffon vultures on the island of Rab died from poisoning. The birds were poisoned accidentally when they ate bait farmers laid to protect their sheep from alochthonous animals.
The project, the purpose of which is to protect and return vultures to Mediterranean countries, is supported by a number of international institutions. It was presented in Zagreb by experts on griffon vultures Juan Jose Sanchez Artesa and Michel Terrasea, who are on a visit to Croatia.