Northern bald ibises were considered extinct in Europe. Seven specimens have now been spotted in South Tyrol. However, one expert takes a critical view of this.
Munich – A species already declared lost in Europe is returning: seven northern bald ibises were spotted in the wild in South Tyrol, as
stol.it
reports. They were considered extinct in Europe since the beginning of the 17th century. However, ornithologist Iacun Prugger is critical of the development. Only recently was an actually extinct animal rediscovered in Germany.
Northern Bald Ibis back in Europe – “Seven specimens spotted at Bolzano military airport”
At
stol.it
, Prugger explains: “Seven specimens have now been spotted at the Bolzano military airport, even though they don’t belong in South Tyrol.” The return of the northern bald ibis to Europe does not seem to have occurred naturally. Since 2014, the EU-funded LIFE Northern Bald Ibis project has been responsible for restoring the population of this bird species in Europe. The extinct Tasmanian tiger could soon return thanks to a research project.
“Every year, the Waldrapp project raises several specimens, especially in Austria and Germany. But because they are migratory birds and they usually spend the winter in the lagoon of Orbetello in Tuscany, you have to show them the way there,” explains ornithologist Prugger. People in paramotors fly ahead to show the birds the route. As soon as the animals know their way, they are released into the wild.
Expert expresses criticism of the EU northern bald ibis project
However, Prugger also expresses concerns about the project: “In theory the project is a really great idea, but in practice it doesn't work as well as people think. The released birds tend to get lost and have no specific time of year when they move south or north. Bald ibises also often get lost in South Tyrol, like the seven specimens currently at Bolzano airport.”
According to the expert, the released birds are still too small to survive on their own, even after several years. “That costs huge amounts of money that the EU is pumping into the project. In my opinion, the funds could be spent much more sensibly, on renaturation or other nature conservation projects,” criticizes Prugger.
Thanks to an EU project, northern bald ibis populations are expected to survive independently until the end of 2028
The stated aim of the project, as stated on the website, is to migrate more than 360 northern bald ibises between the northern foothills of the Alps and Tuscany by the end of 2028. “This corresponds to the calculated minimum number of individuals necessary for the continued existence of the release population,” said an official statement.
At the end of the first project in 2019, the population already numbered 142 animals. In addition to the existing colonies in southern Germany and the Salzburger Land, there are plans to establish further northern bald ibis colonies in Switzerland, Carinthia and northern Italy.
(bk)