Cyprus steps up efforts to protect vultures with marked power lines

In a bid to protect Cyprus’ endangered vultures and other large bird species, the Game and Wildlife Service and the Cyprus Electricity Authority (CEA) have teamed up to mark 12.5 kilometers of overhead power lines. The goal? To make these lines more visible to birds and reduce the risk of deadly collisions and electrocutions.

Birds like vultures are particularly vulnerable to these hazards, and since 2018, at least six vultures and seven Spotted Eagles have been killed in the country’s electricity network. To tackle this, BirdLife Cyprus has been tracking vultures using GPS data to map out their flight paths and identify high-risk areas, such as the Limnati Valley and the Paramalios River. This information has guided the marking of power lines where bird strikes are most likely.

One of the lines to be marked was the site of a fatal vulture collision in May 2023, underscoring the urgency of the project. The effort is part of a broader push to conserve Cyprus' birdlife and reduce the impact of the expanding energy network on wildlife. While new infrastructure focuses on underground cables and safer designs, marking existing lines is a quick way to help protect birds in the short term.

This project is closely tied to the LIFE with Vultures CY initiative, which is working to recover Cyprus' vulture population. The project is co-funded by the EU's LIFE programme and involves collaboration with several environmental organizations.

With this new agreement, Cyprus is taking a big step forward in protecting its wildlife and ensuring that both birds and energy needs can coexist safely on the island.