From April 17 to 21, Croatia hosted an international meeting organized by the LIFE SUPport project, wherein the Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna made contributions by delivering a presentation titled ” Important Areas for vultures in the Balkan Peninsula” by Hristo Peshev, the FDFF coordinator for the BalkanDetox LIFE Project. The gathering title was Exploring Best Practice Experience regarding the Implementation of the EU Sanitary Regulation.

Drawing from Bulgaria’s experience, insights were shared with Croatian counterparts and institutions, aiming to accelerate the implementation of EU regulations. This collaboration seeks to bolster the vulture population in Croatia’s island regions, providing vital support to local breeders in disposing of animal carcasses.

In April, representatives from the Society for the Protection and Research of Birds in Serbia visited the Kresnen Gorge. As partners in the BalkanDetox LIFE Project, they were briefed on initiatives for vulture protection and reintroduction, particularly the “Life for the Bearded Vulture” project. Serbia hosts one of the largest griffon vulture colonies in the Balkans, situated in the Uvac gorge, where state institutions oversee bird care and feeding.

In Serbia, non-governmental organizations are diligently engaging farmers, hunters, and local communities to conserve birds of prey. Efforts are underway to expand the network of feeding sites in the western country, ensuring the long-term sustainability of vulture conservation efforts.