The Community of Madrid has achieved a remarkable conservation success, doubling its black vulture population from 104 breeding pairs in 2012 to over 250 in 2024. This significant increase can be attributed to dedicated habitat management, supplemental feeding, monitoring of potential threats, and the successful rehabilitation of chicks that fall from their nests.
This spring, two chicks were rescued by Forest Agents and taken to the Wildlife Recovery Center (CRAS). Recently, at seven months old and ready for independence, they were released in the Término de El Paular estate, a crucial wildlife refuge acquired by the regional government in October 2023, which is set to become part of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
Located in Rascafría, this area is part of the Peripheral Protection Zone of the park. When combined with two neighboring public forests and the Cabeza de Hierro area, it could expand the park's total area by nearly 12%, enhancing the protection of local biodiversity.
Black vultures, which can reach a wingspan of 280 centimeters, are one of the most threatened species in Europe. They primarily inhabit the Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) of Alto Lozoya, which hosts Spain's fourth largest colony, as well as the ZEPA Encinares of the Alberche and Cofio rivers.
Unlike other vultures, such as the griffon vulture that nests on cliffs, black vultures prefer pine trees away from urban areas and human activity. Biodiversity experts from the regional government, in collaboration with the Spanish Ornithological Society, diligently monitor their nesting sites. In 2024, over 200 nests were recorded around Peñalara and approximately 50 outside Rascafría.
Other bird species are also thriving in the region. The black stork population has increased from five breeding pairs in 2013 to eight in 2024, successfully raising nine chicks. The more common white stork has over 2,300 nests, while the Iberian imperial eagle population has grown from 30 pairs in 2008 to 101. The griffon vulture population is now estimated to exceed 600 pairs.
The Community of Madrid's Wildlife Recovery Center (CRAS) is recognized as a leading facility in Europe for the care and preservation of wildlife. It focuses on native species while also handling invasive exotic species that need to be removed. The dedicated team at CRAS provides comprehensive care, nurturing young animals and rehabilitating adults for reintroduction into their natural habitats. In the first six months of this year, CRAS received 4,698 admissions, an increase of 310 compared to 2023.
Of these, 3,204 were native species such as swifts, common swallows, and white storks, with 768 successfully returned to the wild and 865 undergoing rehabilitation. The remaining 1,471 were categorized as exotic and invasive species.