The “Bred 4 the Wild” Bearded Vulture Breeding Programme is a collaborative conservation effort between governments, the formal conservation sector, corporates and private specialists to save this critically endangered species from extinction.

It is estimated that less than 350 of these magnificent birds remain, living high up in the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains that serrate the border between Lesotho and South Africa.

Breeding just once a year in winter, the elusive pairs lay two eggs, but only raise one chick. The challenging aim of our project is to harvest 32 eggs from the cliff-face nests to hatch and raise in our specialized breeding center. This founder group will form a genetic reserve and their progeny will be released to supplement the dwindling population in the wild.

Project roll out is long-term and unfolds in three progressive phases