Two rehabilitated Eurasian Griffon vultures, which were released from Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve in April 2023, have established new permanent territories in Armenia and Iraq. According to tracking data published by the reserve to coincide with International Vulture Awareness Day, the birds have traveled across eight nations in the Middle East over a 17-month period before settling into their current habitats. The bird designated as Vulture 536 has established itself in Armenia, whereas Vulture 535 has made its home in Iraq.
During their extensive regional journeys, the two vultures covered a combined distance equivalent to circling the globe six times. Vulture 536 navigated through Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. Meanwhile, Vulture 535 crossed Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Türkiye, and Iran. Despite these vast initial travels, tracking data shows that neither bird has flown more than 100 kilometers away from its new home range over the past two years. Reserve scientists state that these localized flight patterns suggest both birds have successfully integrated into the resident wild Griffon vulture populations of Armenia and Iraq. This shift from wide-ranging travel to stationary residency is typical for Eurasian Griffon vultures as they reach maturity, secure food sources, and establish themselves within breeding colonies.
Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, emphasized how satellite tracking helps conservationists monitor migratory species in real time, noting that this technology is crucial for managing conservation strategies across international borders. The vultures were fitted with satellite trackers using biodegradable straps designed to fall off naturally. The reserve plans to monitor both birds for as long as the transmitters function.
While the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes the Eurasian Griffon vulture as a species of Least Concern, approximately 70 percent of vulture species worldwide are currently threatened with extinction.
Spanning 24,500 square kilometers, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve links NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. The reserve contains 15 ecosystems that harbor over 50 percent of the Kingdom's bird and mammal species, and is currently executing a rewilding initiative to reintroduce 23 historically native species to the region.
