Seven Griffon Vultures Poisoned in Lesachtal: Investigators Suspect Targeted Wildlife Crime

Toxicological analyses from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich confirmed poisoning with Carbofuran in five completed investigations. Carbofuran is a nerve agent that is lethal to birds and mammals even in minimal doses. In the EU, the active ingredient, formerly used as an insecticide, has been banned since 2008. Nevertheless, it is repeatedly laid out illegally as bait.

Toxin and Investigations

Christina Wolf-Petre, species protection expert at WWF Austria, stated sharply: "Anyone who lays out Carbofuran consciously accepts the death of protected wild animals. Seven affected griffon vultures in a single valley represent a serious case of wildlife crime." José Tavares, director of the Vulture Conservation Foundation, which works across borders to protect European vultures, also warned of the consequences of such acts: "Such actions have the potential to push endangered species back to the brink of extinction and destroy decades of conservation efforts."

Birdlife Austria, WWF Austria, and the Vulture Conservation Foundation appealed to the public to report any information regarding the incidents to the police. Suspicious observations can be reported to the Carinthian State Police Directorate at +43 59 133 20 33 33, the BirdCrime hotline at +43 660 869 2327, via email to meldung@wildlifecrime.at, or through the anonymous reporting platform at c07.aygonet.org.

Importance of Griffon Vultures for Austria

Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are pure scavengers and are important for Austria as summer birds: juvenile and non-breeding birds from breeding areas in Friuli and the northwestern Balkans fly into the Alps at the start of the alpine pasture season. Together with bearded and cinereous vultures, griffon vultures clear wild and domestic animal carcasses in the summer, thus contributing to disease prevention.

Toll of Wildlife Crime

The current case is part of a worrying trend: According to the new wildlife crime report from Birdlife Austria and WWF Austria, published last week, nearly 400 illegal killings of birds have been documented in Austria over the past nine years. Of these, 81 protected birds of prey died from poisoning. More than 80 percent of all documented victims in the report were birds, with birds of prey forming a central component.

Johannes Hohenegger, birds of prey expert at Birdlife Austria, explained that the case in Lesachtal is one of the most severe known poisoning cases in Austria in recent years. The organizations involved suspect a targeted action against protected wild animals. Criminal police investigations are ongoing.

The nature conservation associations announced that they would support the clarification of the case with all their strength. At the same time, they pointed to the cross-border dimension: since the affected griffon vultures originate from Italy and the Balkans, any poisoning directly impacts the population of an already endangered species. The Vulture Conservation Foundation is therefore coordinating the exchange with partner organizations in neighboring countries.