N’Djamena, October 10, 2026 – On World Migratory Bird Day, October 10^th, Sahara Conservation announces its participation in LIFE EV Safe Return, an international conservation project co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Program and coordinated by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB/BirdLife Bulgaria). Bringing together 15 institutions and organizations from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the project will advance the recovery of the endangered Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) by strengthening protection across its breeding grounds, migration routes and wintering areas. In Chad, Sahara Conservation will focus on reducing poisoning, illegal killing and trafficking, while strengthening the protection of vultures through community engagement and collaboration with national authorities.

Every autumn, Egyptian Vultures leave the Balkan Peninsula and travel more than 5,000 kilometers to their wintering grounds in Africa. Along the way, they face numerous threats, including poisoning, illegal killing and electrocution. In parts of Africa, vultures are also persecuted for use in practices tied to traditional beliefs. A bird protected at its nest may still die thousands of kilometers away. Its survival therefore depends on coordinated conservation actions throughout its flyway.

Once widespread across the Balkans, the Egyptian Vulture has disappeared as a breeding species from several countries in the region. Today, only around 50 breeding pairs remain across Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia and Albania. After more than three decades of decline, the Balkan population has shown signs of stabilization in recent years, while numbers in Bulgaria have begun to increase. This progress reflects sustained collaboration between conservation organizations, institutions and local communities. It offers hope, but with such a small population, the loss of any bird can slow recovery.

Running until 2031, LIFE EV Safe Return builds on successful conservation measures. The project will strengthen measures to reduce threats along the species’ migratory flyway, reinforce the Balkan population through the release of captive-bred and rescued birds, and engage local communities and authorities in conservation efforts. It also carries forward the achievements of the Egyptian Vulture New LIFE project, which received the LIFE Citizens’ Prize at the 2026 LIFE Awards. “The first signs of recovery show that our efforts are making a difference. We must now secure this progress and turn it into a lasting trend. For a bird travelling more than 5,000 km between the Balkans and Africa, this means tackling threats along its entire migration route. International cooperation is essential: protecting birds in one country must be matched by action in the countries they cross and where they spend the winter. For the first time within our conservation program, targeted action will be undertaken in Chad, one of the species’ key wintering countries. Our international team will focus on three priorities: reducing threats that cause mortality, reinforcing the wild population through releases of captive-bred and rescued birds, and actively involving local authorities and communities,” says Dr Volen Arkumarev from BSPB, the project manager.

For the first time within this international conservation program, targeted activities will be implemented in Chad, an important wintering country for Egyptian Vultures migrating from the Balkans.

Sahara Conservation will lead activities in two priority areas: the Ouadi Rimé – Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve and Lake Fitri, identified through tracking data from migratory vultures fitted with GPS transmitters. In Chad, vultures face several serious threats. Poisoned carcasses intended to kill predators, such as jackals, can also cause the deaths of vultures and other scavenging species. Misconceptions about vultures and their behavior can lead to persecution, while illegal killing and trafficking for belief-based uses put additional pressure on already threatened populations.

Recent incidents have highlighted the urgency of addressing these threats. In 2025, more than 100 Rüppell’s Vultures were found dead in Chad, with many carcasses discovered decapitated, raising serious concerns about targeted killing and illegal trade. Beyond the Egyptian Vulture, the project’s activities in Chad will benefit other vulture species facing similar threats, contributing to wider efforts to conserve these ecologically important birds.

A central component of Sahara Conservation’s work will be to engage with local communities, particularly livestock farmers, in developing practical solutions to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife. Awareness campaigns will address misconceptions about vultures, explain their ecological role, and promote alternatives to the use of poisoned carcasses for predator control. Working closely with communities, the project will explore affordable and locally appropriate livestock protection measures, considering the extensive grazing systems and nomadic lifestyles characteristic of the region.

As natural scavengers, vultures play an essential ecological role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by consuming animal carcasses, helping remove organic waste from the environment. Protecting them therefore also contributes to the ecological health of the landscapes on which local communities depend. By bringing together people and organizations across three continents, LIFE EV Safe Return will work to ensure that this remarkable bird can continue its journeys and return safely to the Balkans.

About the project
LIFE EV Safe Return is coordinated by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB/BirdLife Bulgaria), in partnership with Green Balkans, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), the Society for the Protection of Birds of Thrace (SPBT), the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), the Albanian Ornithological Society (AOS), DOĞA (Türkiye), Sahara Conservation (SC), BirdLife Africa and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). Sofia Zoo and Prague Zoo are associated partners. The project is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Program.

About World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day is a global campaign raising awareness of the need to conserve migratory birds and their habitats. It is celebrated twice a year, in May and October, reflecting seasonal migration around the world. In 2026, the October date is 10 October, and the theme highlights the role of citizen science in migratory bird conservation.