Griffon Vultures Settle in Morocco After 40y

Two adult pairs and several sub-adults of Griffon Vultures have recently settled in Jbel Moussa (northern Morocco) near the Strait of Gibraltar to continue their breeding cycle, according to the Moroccan Association for Birds and Wildlife Protection (AMPOVIS).
Experts observed and confirmed the settlement of the first adult pair of griffon vultures at the end of January 2023. Two weeks later the arrival of the second pair was noted on the same territory followed by the construction of a nest and the laying of an egg.
This small group of birds can extend to 4 or 5 couples during this month, said AMPOVIS.
According to expert Osé Rafael Garrido, it is the first settlement of the species in North Africa and the first natural passage for adult vultures between Morocco and Spain and between Europe and Africa.
The last breeding pairs of griffon vultures observed in Morocco date back to the 1980s.