• The vultures had totally disappeared from the Big Limestone plateaus by 1945. And, it is at the beginning of 1980s, that the FIR (Capital of Intervention for Birds of prey) and the National park of Cevennes decides on to reintroduce the vulture wildcat in the gorges of Jonte. This reintroduction is a world premiere and will know a big success. Since, hundred of couples of this bird of prey necrophage, called before " bouldras ", prospers in the gorges of the Tarn and the Jonte.



• Another vulture, vulture monk was reintroduced in gorges. It is the LPO (League of Protection of Birds) and the National park of Cevennes which reintroduced it in the 1990s. There also, it is a world premiere. A dozen couples flies in the gorges of the Tarn and the Jonte at present.



• Two other vultures are capable to repopulate the Big Limestone plateaus. They are the percnoptere vulture and the bearded gypaete. At present, only the first one returned spontaneously, but remains very rare in the landscapes.

Here are some photos of vultures wildcats. It is one of the biggest birds of prey of France: its scale varies 2,35 m in 2,65 m for a weight going from 7 to 11 kg. Tremendous glider, he can cross several hundreds of kilometres in the single day, without giving a single blow of wing.
For more information, visit the official site of reintroduction and conservation of the vultures in the Big Limestone plateaus: www.vultures.org

Click photos to enlarge them.