Sofia Zoo donated fifteen Fellow deer and a Red deer to FWFF and Green Balkan’s Vulture program in Bulgaria. The animals were released in Kresna Gorge and in Kotel Mountain.
Twelve Fallow deer and the Red deer were released in Kotel in top habitat with wild conspecifics by adaptation method, while an imminent release was applied for the rest three deer in the Kresna Gorge. The action serves the LIFE 14/NAT/BG/ 649 The Bright Future of Black Vulture of FWFF and Green Balkans for returning of Fallow Deer in Vulture Save Areas to restore the balance between the large carnivores (bear, wolf, lynx and Jackals) and their natural food. In the last decades, there is a rapid decline in the game populations’ number (deer species, chamois, etc.) due to illegal poaching. More and more large predators rely on attacks over the livestock. Farmers take revenge on carnivores and set illegally poison. Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna obtain deer by purchase or donations and make them adapt for some period in sanctuaries. Then the animals are released in the wild. There are three places in Bulgaria where the project is ongoing- Kresna Gorge, Kotel Mountain and Sakar Mountain.
The Sofia Zoo, a long-term contributor to FWFF conservation projects, made a donation of 16 deer, born in the Zoo. To remind, the Zoo donated Griffon vultures, which were released in the Balkan Mountain in the last years.
FWFF and the hunting societies are collaborating in raising the population number of wild ungulates in Bulgaria. Although, there are still poachers, who act illegally and the control over them is difficult and less effective.
