Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). © Alyona Kaptyonkina.
Conservationists in Kazakhstan have built a clearer picture of the country’s Egyptian vulture population over the past three years, following several successful quests to tag and track the species in the south and southeast regions.
In 2022, biologists at the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Center (BRCC) began monitoring Egyptian vultures and juvenile birds were fitted with coloured rings and GPS trackers to follow their movements. The team tagged 11 juveniles, the majority of which were successfully tracked, although one was unfortunately eaten by an owl.
A major development occurred in 2023, when the northernmost active nest of Egyptian vultures was found in a riverbed in the Chu-Ili Mountains. This unique location marked the northernmost breeding range for the species not only in Kazakhstan, but also worldwide.
More good news followed in 2025 when two Egyptian vulture chicks hatched in that northern nest and were fitted with coloured rings and GPS trackers. Another active nest was also found in the same area – evidence of a modest yet stable species presence in the Chu-Ili Mountains. Over the course of three seasons, a total of 27 Egyptian vultures have been ringed, of which 13 were ringed in 2025.
Alyona with two Egyptian vultures. © Genriyetta Pulikova.
Ornithologist, Alyona Kaptyonkina, participated in the research as part of her work with the BRCC – a non-governmental, non-profit organisation established in 2020 that aims to restore and preserve Kazakhstan’s biological diversity. She has received one Rufford Small Grant (RSG) in 2024 for the project, “Conservation of Egyptian Vulture and Other Avian Scavengers in Mountainous Regions of South and Southeast Kazakhstan.” Drawing on previous BRCC research, her RSG project aims to gather sufficient evidence that veterinary drugs are one of the causes of the sharp decline in vultures in Kazakhstan.
“We have captured lots of videos and photos, which will be shared in the coming months to highlight the substantial role these wonderful birds play in the wild, and to showcase our work,” Alyona tells The Rufford Foundation. “We will continue to collaborate with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources to ban non-steroidal anti-inflammatory veterinary drugs that are harmful to carrion-eating birds.”
She adds, “In addition to our work with Egyptian vultures, we have ringed and tagged two Cinereous vultures with GPS trackers in the Karatau Mountains. We will be monitoring the birds in this new location to understand their migration routes.”
Congratulations to Alyona and her colleagues for making strides to understand and conserve Kazakhstan’s vultures.
