With the aim of feeding the black vulture and other necrophagous birds, thus improving their habitat; A project has been carried out to give farmers the possibility of leaving the carcasses of their cattle in a controlled way to supply these birds.

The Life Feeding Scavengers project: “Restoration of the natural feeding habitat of the black vulture and other necrophagous birds in central Spain” has been developed since 2014 in 26 SPAs in the south of Castilla y León, which constitutes the distribution area of the black vulture in this autonomous community. The main objective of the project has been the restoration of the natural feeding habitat of the black vulture and other necrophagous birds, through the use of extensive livestock carcasses as food. Since 2013, the new European and regional regulations have allowed livestock farms in a non-intensive regime to manage the carcasses of their livestock as food for these priority species for the EU.

The participation of extensive livestock farmers has been the cornerstone on which this project is based. Agreements have been established with 518 extensive livestock farms in the vicinity of 26 SPAs in the south of Castilla y León.

The mortality associated with the farms has been authorized to leave the carcasses of their animals as food for the necrophagous birds in the project area, assuming more than 623 TN of annual biomass.

The food deposited annually represents the amount needed to feed more than 1,000 vultures for a whole year, while the food deposited at supplementary feeding points can feed more than 500 kites and other ghouls for a year as well.

The monitoring of the consumption of 490 carrion shows that 97% of the carrion is consumed.

From the joint work with the farmers, and the monitoring carried out, valuable information has been obtained that has been collected in the Manual of Good Practices for the deposit of carcasses of extensive livestock and other SANDACH as food for necrophagous species of community interest produced in this project.