Retrospective study of asphyxia as a cause of mortality in population of Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Serbia

Interest in wild raptor mortality has increased recently because many species are in decline and this global problem can cause serious biodiversity problems. The main cause of mortality is human activities that lead to extinction of many bird species, including European Gri#on Vulture, whose place in the ecosystem is of great importance. The largest part of the Serbian European Gri#on Vulture population is located in the gorge of the Uvac River in Serbia in the special nature reserve “Uvac”. The birds nest on the high, steep limestone cli#s above river and its accumulation lakes. In Serbia, the European Gri#on Vulture was protected by law in 1994, and since then its population has been increasing. Asphyxia as one of the causes of lethality (mortality) of European Gri#on Vultures in Sebia was studied in the period from 2019 to 2022. Twenty nine dead European Gri#on Vultures were pathomorphologically examined. Informations on species, sex, and date of carcass collection were collected. Of the total 29 birds, asphyxia was the cause of death in 15 cases. The causes of asphyxia were drowning in the lakes as well as in$ammatory diseases such as bronchopneumonia and !brinonecrotic pneumonia, and infectious lesions (tuberculosis, aspergillosis). Saving Gri#on Vultures is of great importance to maintain the function of the entire ecosystem. The impact of these birds on human health is undeniable, making the study of their mortality, identi!cation of potential risks, and elimination of these risks critical to biodiversity conservation.