On Saturday August 8th, officers from SEPRONA (the environment arm of the Guardia Civil) found fifteen vultures and a dog that had been poisoned in the vicinity of the town of Palencia Osornillo.

Twelve of the birds were still alive, albeit in very poor condition, and were recoverd to the Centre for Animal Recovery in Burgos. Immediately veterinarians commenced treatment of the birds, which was a long slow process including inducing vomiting in the animals that were still alive, trying to stabilize them.

The animals that have survived the initial emergency treatment were subject to treatment with antidotes.

The improvement in six of them has been outstanding, and on Tuesday these six have been released in the same place where they were found, while the other four vultures continue to receive treatment until they are well enough to be returned to their natural environment.

The team responsible for the release of these birds have clarified that the vultures had successfully undergone treatment for the effects of poisoning and that “they should be freed because the animals are healthy and they suffer stress in captivity”.

They have also said that some of them are still having and raising their chicks in the nest, so it was not desirable to delay the release. They also said that vulture parents have an unusual parenting strategy whereas both parents act as partners in feeding their offspring.

One of the six released vultures. Picture by Manuel Brágimo.