Spanish Vultures Released in Cyprus to Replenish Population

A griffon vulture flies free after released near the Korfi village in Limassol district in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. (AP)
A griffon vulture flies free after released near the Korfi village in Limassol district in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. (AP)
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Spanish Vultures Released in Cyprus to Replenish Population

A griffon vulture flies free after released near the Korfi village in Limassol district in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. (AP)
A griffon vulture flies free after released near the Korfi village in Limassol district in the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. (AP)

Some 15 Griffon vultures from Spain have been released into the wild in Cyprus to help revive the east Mediterranean island's population that's dropped to just 8-10 birds because of deliberate poisoning, conservationists said Wednesday.

The LIFE with Vultures CY group said the large birds were initially brought to the east Mediterranean island nation nearly a year ago and stayed in a specially constructed cage to get acclimatized to local conditions before their release.

Cyprus’ Game and Fauna Service has attached GPS transmitters to all the vultures to monitor their movements and well-being. From previous releases of vultures elsewhere in Europe, it’s expected that the birds will intermingle with the remaining indigenous vulture population at feeding and roosting locations.

Conservationists say restoring the local vulture population to its former numbers remains a long-term goal, with the most pressing issue being to eradicate the biggest threat to the species which is use of poison bait in the wilderness.

A recent study suggested that the species of bird would disappear from Cyprus in about 15 years if nothing was done to eliminate the poisoning threat and replenish the population with vultures brought from abroad.

Another 15 vultures flown in from Spain — which hosts 90-95% of Europe’s population of the birds — will be released in Cyprus next year.

The Griffon vulture, which can grow up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) long and has a wingspan of 2.8 meters (9 feet), feeds on animal carcasses.



Saudi Students Win Six Medals at Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
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Saudi Students Win Six Medals at Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad

Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT
Saudi flag - File Photo/AAWSAT

Six Saudi students achieved a new international milestone today by winning six medals at the 29th edition of the Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad (JBMO 2025), held in North Macedonia from June 24 to 29, with 135 students participating from 23 countries.

The Saudi team earned two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, reaffirming their competitiveness and academic excellence on the global stage, SPA reported.

This accomplishment is the result of years of intensive training overseen by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, as part of their joint efforts to discover and nurture gifted students and prepare them for international competitions.

Team members were selected through a series of rigorous tests conducted within the National Program for Gifted Identification, along with advanced scientific training camps led by elite local and international trainers.

This marks the Kingdom's 14th participation in the Olympiad, bringing its total medal count to 11 gold, 24 silver, and 29 bronze medals, reflecting the steady progress of Saudi participation year after year. By comparison, the Kingdom’s previous participation in the JBMO yielded one silver and four bronze medals.

Launched in 1997 in the former Yugoslavia, the JBMO is held annually for students under the age of 15, with each country allowed a maximum of six participants. Organized in rotation by the Balkan countries and Cyprus, the Olympiad is considered one of the most prestigious regional mathematics competitions.