This week, a partnership agreement was signed between Diergaarde Blijdorp, the Friends of Blijdorp and The Peregrine Fund. The foundation works globally to protect birds of prey of all shapes and sizes, including the Rüppell’s Vulture. This is a critically endangered species for which Diergaarde Blijdorp works tirelessly every day, through research and breeding programmes.
Photo of the signing, from left to right:
Ralph Buij – The Peregrine Fund / Belinde Bakker – Director Diergaarde Blijdorp / Hans Olthoff – Board Member Friends of Blijdorp
Like many other birds of prey, the Rüppell’s Vulture faces tough challenges. Due in part to poisoned bait being laid out in Africa, numbers have plummeted by as much as 95% in recent decades. Diergaarde Blijdorp acts as coordinator of the European population management programme, aiming to save the species from extinction, among other things through scientific research. Together with The Peregrine Fund and Wageningen University & Research, Rotterdam Zoo is working on the largest genetic data collection for this vulture species. That’s why two PhD students will start this year to map out the genetics and ecology of these essential animals. The data from these PhDs will greatly contribute to the effective protection of the Rüppell’s Vulture in the wild and the management of the European zoo population. The latter is needed for the successful reintroduction of the Rüppell’s Vulture into the wild.
This far-reaching agreement between Diergaarde Blijdorp and The Peregrine Fund would never have come about without the Friends of Blijdorp. This association has donated a total of €300,000 to this special project. Even though the Friends of Blijdorp usually invest in the physical zoo, they can also see the necessity of saving the Rüppell’s Vulture in the wild. These impressive ‘cleaners of the savannah’ are a vital link in preventing disease and outbreaks.
With their research, the PhD students will take an important step in conserving these iconic animals.