{
  "id": 5784630,
  "title": "Rehabilitated Saudi vultures settle in Armenia and Iraq after epic regional journey",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/rehabilitated-saudi-vultures-settle-in-armenia-and-iraq-after-epic",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T13:30:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/664326/saudi-arabia/saudi-released-griffon-vultures-settle-in-armenia-and-iraq-after-crossing-eight-countries"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two rehabilitated Eurasian Griffon vultures, Vultures 536 and 535, have established new habitats in Armenia and Iraq following an extensive regional journey spanning eight countries in the Middle East. The birds were released from Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia in April 2023 and spent around 17 months traversing through Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran before settling in their current territories.\n\nThe combined movements of the vultures were equivalent to circumnavigating the Earth six times. However, in the past two years, neither bird has traveled more than 100 kilometers from its chosen home range, suggesting they have become residents in the wild Griffon vulture populations of Armenia and Iraq. This transition marks an important stage in the vultures' lives as they mature and establish themselves within breeding colonies, influenced by factors such as food availability and environmental conditions.\n\nThe reserve's tracking data highlights how satellite technology can provide conservationists with a comprehensive picture of wildlife movements that extend beyond national borders. Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the reserve, emphasized the importance of cross-border conservation efforts, stating that the tracking data underscores the need for international cooperation in protecting species whose ranges span multiple countries and ecosystems.\n\nDespite being classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, vultures face significant challenges globally, with around 70 percent of their species threatened with extinction. The journeys of Vultures 535 and 536 underscore the necessity of international conservation cooperation for species with extensive ranges. Both birds were fitted with biodegradable satellite tracking tags that will continue to provide data as long as their tags remain active. The reserve covers 24,500 square kilometers and supports over half of Saudi Arabia's mammal and bird species, playing a crucial role in the kingdom's rewilding program.",
  "summary": "TABUK — Two Eurasian Griffon vultures rehabilitated and released from Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve have established new home ranges in Armenia and Iraq after journeys spanning eight countries across the Middle East.Tracking data released by the reserve to mark International Vulture Awareness Day shows that the two birds, known as Vultures 536 and 535, have remained within 100…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}