"Even if it is concluded that the death [of cattle] was caused by the attack of vultures, it is important to mention that this is a circumstance that should not be a concern for livestock producers, since these are very rare specific situations", indicates the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), in response to Lusa.

The clarification from ICNF comes after two alleged attacks by vultures on cattle, this month, in Bemposta and Vilar de Rei, in the municipality of Mogadouro, which left livestock producers apprehensive not only because of the damage caused, but also because of the proximity of these scavenging birds to the populations.

ICNF also guaranteed that these were the only situations reported in the North region during this year.

"Regarding the reports of the death of cattle in Vilar do Rei, taking into account the inspections carried out, it was found that these are situations related to reproductive management (a cow in postpartum and a newborn calf), however, it was not possible to confirm compliance with the management conditions appropriate to the physiological condition of the animals, or to conclude that the scavenging birds were responsible for their deaths", clarifies ICNF.

ICNF states that it carried out inspections on the premises on the 8th and on Monday, as well as evaluations of the descriptive and photographic elements collected during the inspections.

The organisation recalls that the vulture, also known as the griffon vulture -'Gyps fulvus'- , is a species with mainly scavenging eating habits, that is, it feeds on animal carcasses or their remains.

"It is unlikely to attack specimens of cattle, sheep, goats or pigs that are in good health", indicates ICNF.

ICNF also adds that it has recorded situations in which the animals were killed by dogs, or that died from other causes, and were later consumed by griffon vultures, which leads to an incorrect attribution of their death to this animal.

In the case of cattle, ICNF advises that pregnant females, when close to the date of birth, should be placed in a stable or protected enclosure, and should only return to the herd one or two weeks after birth.

The presence of livestock dogs, properly trained for this purpose, or shepherds are recommended deterrence methods, and these measures are also useful for protecting calves.

ICNF also states that sick or very weak animals should be in more protected conditions.

According to producer Paulo Vilariça, on the 8th, in Vilar de Rei, the calf of a heifer that had been in labour was allegedly attacked by a flock of vultures and ended up dying.

On Monday, in Bemposta, according to producer José Augusto Morais, while the cows were grazing on land in the village, vultures attacked a newborn calf, which ended up dying.

Producers from the Douro International Natural Park (PNDI) do not doubt that this type of attack is increasingly frequent, and there are sometimes disagreements between the authorities and the owners in the way they approach the event and its origin.

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