Griffon vultures have recovered dramatically in southern France following legal protection and reintroduction efforts, but welfare challenges from lead poisoning and powerline collision remain significant.
Griffon vulture welfare has improved dramatically through legal protection and dedicated conservation management, demonstrating that policy intervention can produce large-scale positive welfare outcomes. However, lead poisoning from rifle bullet fragments in ungulate carcasses continues to cause suffering and death in birds that consume contaminated offal. Electrocution and collision with power lines causes traumatic injury and death in dispersing juvenile birds exploring unfamiliar territories. Transition to lead-free hunting ammunition in vulture range areas and power line retrofitting programmes address the remaining welfare threats to this recovered population.