Source link : https://london-news.net/soaring-hopes-uk-red-kites-take-flight-to-rescue-spanish-kin-from-extinction/
A British red kite breaks free from an aviary nestled in the secluded hills of western Spain and takes its first flight. At six months old, this marks its inaugural experience of the wild.
Without a sound, it ascends gracefully into the sky above the arid landscape, vanishing within moments into the distant wooded valley.
This release is part of a remarkable conservation journey now coming full circle.
Almost forty years ago, these birds were extinct in both England and Scotland, with only a handful of pairs remaining in Wales.
Initiatives began in the late 1980s and early 1990s when red kite chicks from Spain and Sweden were introduced to the Chilterns along the Oxfordshire-Buckinghamshire border.
The project was immensely successful, leading to a flourishing population across the UK, where estimates now indicate over 6,000 mating pairs, representing about 15% of the global population.
Dr. Ian Evans from Natural England was among the pioneering figures behind this effort.
He recalled: “We faced numerous uncertainties. Initially, we feared the birds might either perish or simply leave the area.”
“The first breeding pairs appeared in 1991, which was truly enlightening, as it signaled that our efforts could indeed succeed.”
“This success laid the groundwork for establishing additional release sites in both England and Scotland.”
Now, red kite chicks born in the UK are being sent to southwest Spain as part of a four-year initiative aimed at bringing their…
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Author : rimmaruslan98@gmail.com
Publish date : 2025-11-09 17:01:00
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