Man Detained Over Poisoning of 8 Vultures in Bulgaria

A 36-year-old man has been detained in Karlovo after eight vultures and a raven were found dead from suspected poisoning in the Balkan Mountains near Botev Peak. Police said evidence of poisoning was discovered and the man confessed. He is being held for 24 hours and is expected to be charged.

The operation was conducted by officers from the Karlovo Regional Police Department and the National Police Directorate. The investigation is being carried out as pre-trial proceedings under the supervision of the Plovdiv District Prosecutor's Office, with all case materials submitted to prosecutors.

The first dead birds were discovered on August 18 in the Central Balkan National Park in the Kalofer area. A griffon vulture was later found in critical condition but died. In total, four black vultures, two griffon vultures, one bearded vulture and a raven were found dead.

The bearded vulture was particularly significant because it was the first bird of its species released into the wild as part of efforts to restore a species that had disappeared from Bulgaria. The bird, named Boev, had been released by the Green Balkans team last year.

The scale of the incident extended beyond the initial discovery. Dr. Hristina Klisurova of the Green Balkans Rescue Center said dead vultures had also been found in Vrachanski Balkan Park and near Madzharovo.

“This action affected the population of the species throughout Southern Bulgaria,” Klisurova said.

The birds were found in difficult terrain at an altitude of more than 1,800 meters, spread across an area of roughly half a square kilometer near the winter trail to Botev Peak. A cattle carcass was also discovered nearby and is believed to have been placed as poisoned bait for predators, potentially bears.

The location was identified after a GPS signal from one of the tagged black vultures alerted conservationists. Dr. Dobromir Dobrev and Nikolay Terziev from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds responded with the trained dog Buda, which is part of a team specializing in detecting poisons in the wild. Central Balkan National Park officials, Karlovo police and wildlife protection officers also joined the investigation.

The vultures were found to have traces of poison during autopsies. Dr. Adriana Jamalova from the Green Balkans Rescue Center said the substance appeared to have been particularly potent.

“A decoy was found near the place where they died. I think the poison was quite serious,” Jamalova said, describing how members of the team became dizzy and experienced burning eyes and skin irritation while conducting the autopsies.

Samples are being sent to three laboratories abroad for comparison and further analysis. According to Jamalova, the initial assessment is that a pesticide may have been responsible, although the final results are still pending.

The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds said the poisoned black vulture whose GPS signal helped locate the site had been donated by Spain as part of the initiative to return black vultures to the Rhodope Mountains. The project is coordinated by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds with the participation of the Wilder Rhodopes Foundation and international partners.

Dr. Dobrev said wildlife poisoning is a broader problem that has also affected Spain, where poison was once a major cause of vulture deaths. He noted that Spain subsequently developed systems for early detection, investigation and punishment of such crimes, along with specialized training and field operations.

“This shows that the problem can be solved when there is a consistent state policy and real implementation of the law,” Dobrev said.

The use of poison baits is illegal and poses risks not only to protected wildlife but also to other animals and people. Under Bulgarian law, those responsible can face up to five years in prison and substantial fines. The case has been reported to the National Police's Environmental and Wildlife Crimes Sector.

The 36-year-old suspect is from Kalofer, works and also raises animals as a side activity, prosecutor Svetoslava Pencheva said. “The person has been detained for 24 hours. He is from Kalofer, he is engaged in work and as a side job he raises animals,” she said.