Last weekend we escaped to Monfragüe as we did last year in the company of friends of herons . One of the reasons for the trip was to enjoy the rich population of raptors in this park, among which birds scavenger and its abundance Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus ), with 800 couples surveyed in 2008.
vultures, despite being one of the most beneficial species of our fauna, as they are responsible for eliminating quickly bodies of large animals, have never had good press among the population. People consider them ugly, ugly birds, and in recent years have begun the accused to kill the cattle , checking posteriormenente that most of these attacks were false, because the vultures are gathering to feed on dead animals or remains of deliveries of cows and sheep. It is possible that the vultures can kill a sick or injured animal, but it would be very unlikely to kill a healthy animal.
vulture nests with chicks in the Salto del Gitano (Monfragüe) . this cliff only about 100 breeding pairs of this species and has never been an attack despite the thousands who visit it.
But today I have spent a newspaper article that has left me completely stunned, a woman claimed that nearly devoured by a group of vultures , which was saved by a car appeared and the spooked. In the article in question described how are you the surrounding birds while walking through the outskirts of town and who came to them with no friendly intentions.
Surely the woman is afraid to see these large birds, which probably would have surprised after eating without being able to take flight. Vultures are able to eat several kilos of meat in one sitting and then take several hours until they can get airborne, so it is not unusual to find a group of birds moving awkwardly surprised if at that time. Happened to me several times.
Vulture resting after eating, just meters from me and without any intention to devour
But what is surprising is the reaction of this woman, knowing that you have thought that the vultures were going to attack when surely be waiting to digest. What is surprising is that the Civil Guard have said after receiving the complaint "would monitor the area" and that authorities in several autonomous communities are considering to start controlling the population of vultures. As always, the word "control" is a euphemism for not using the right word: murder, culling or deleted.
Ironically one of the most beneficial species of our birds, a species is being decimated by the use of poisons, will begin to be "controlled" by some frivolous claims. Rather than inform, educate and explain the situation, it is more convenient and faster hit four shots and resolve the problem. As this occurs, the authorities hide poisoning and poaching, and those responsible for these atrocities go unpunished for committing further.
Once again, ignorance is gaining ground not surprise me that since we are in election period, political leaders attempt to harvest another handful of votes allowing control of killer birds. They did it with cormorants and sea lions and also for decades foxes, martens, genets, raptors and other "vermin", so they are well trained.
To conclude I literally copied a comment from a reader of the newspaper that published the article: " The solution, shotgun on his shoulder and ball point, which is a green or a oenejero, as two birds with one stone and let us with such foolishness and protection ... "
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