Alcoy - Griffon Vultures in Barranc del Cint - hike in the mountains

On the north-west side of Alcoy, there is a mountain area where you can see griffon vultures soaring over the peaks. The entrance to the area is through a characteristic V-shaped gorge which is visible from a long distance. The viable population of griffon vultures is due to a long-term and successful program to reintroduce the species, which was for a period extinct in this area.

The tour starts at the ruins of a factory. Follow the sign for Barranc del Cint and the yellow/white/red signs.

A paved path leads straight into the Barranc del Cint gorge which splits the Sierra de Mariola in two with the peaks Les Pedreres on the left and Pic del les Àguiles on the right.

Eventually you enter an area with a narrow passage surrounded by beautiful rock formations. Here there are stone-paved paths and stairs.

Already here you will be able to see Griffon Vultures soaring above the sky.

Continue on the marked path until you come to a crossroads (see picture below) where an information board has been set up. It's a long hike before you get there.

At the intersection, choose the path that goes up to the left. It leads to a long climb in forest terrain.

Continue along this road until you reach two red-marked logs on the right. Here you take the path that goes up to the left (see the picture below).

This path leads up to the top of Les Pedreres. Here you will see information signs informing you that you can hike in the area during certain parts of the year, but at the same time asking you to pay attention to the wildlife by speaking softly and avoiding making noise.

As you approach the top, you will come to a sign on the right informing you of the Projecte Canyet de les Pedreres. If you go down to the right along the fence around a project area for Griffon Vultures, you will be able to see vultures relatively close.

If you continue straight ahead towards the top of Les Pedreres, you will also be able to see the vultures in flight quite close to you. If you look back, you can see them sitting in a treetop.

This area was protected in 2005. It is now a nature conservation area for Griffon Vultures with a total ban on hunting.

Griffon vultures have lived naturally here for centuries, but the population died out at the end of the 20th century because invasive veterinary infection control measures destroyed the food supply. In 1986, the first case of mad cow disease was discovered in England. Further infection led to a major epidemic in both England and other countries in Europe. Eventually, people who had eaten beef also became infected. The infectious agent that causes mad cow disease in cows caused Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. This is a fatal brain disease for which there is no treatment. The development caused great concern, and most countries introduced strict veterinary infection control measures. Millions of cows were slaughtered, and farmers were required to remove all animals that died of themselves from the wild immediately and send them in for destruction and to investigate whether they had died of mad cow disease. These were effective measures against the epidemic, which was eventually stopped, but they were deadly measures for the vultures that had lived by eating the dead animals.

The griffon vultures died out because they no longer had a food source, but fortunately, enthusiasts and the environmental department in Alcoy wanted to do something about it. In 2001, Projecte Canyet was started with the aim of reintroducing griffon vultures. In order to preserve the natural heritage and achieve better natural diversity and biodiversity, the Canyet de les Pedres de Sant Cristófol property, which was owned by the municipality of Alcoy, was converted into a nature reserve where all hunting was prohibited.

In 2000, enthusiasts had already released 15 Griffon Vultures, which were brought from other places in the Sierra de Mariola where there were still surviving specimens. A feeding station was set up to ensure that the birds had enough food to survive. The population was closely monitored, and today this is one of the most successful projects for the reintroduction of extinct species in Spain. There is now a viable colony there with around eighty individuals. You can see them up close in the Barranc del Cint near Alcoy, but you can also see them in the mountains many miles away where they soar around in search of dead wild animals.

Spain is an important country for vultures. A full 98 percent of European cuckoo vultures nest there. The same goes for 94 percent of griffon vultures, 82 percent of carrion vultures, the smallest of the vultures, and 66 percent of lamb-tailed vultures. It is therefore important for the entire European population that Spain manages to preserve the natural habitats - the habitats - for these birds. Projecte Canyet in Alcoy has been a model for conservation work throughout Spain. It gives hope that we will be able to preserve these beautiful and important birds for posterity. Actually, this should be a win-win situation, because vultures are nature's sanitation workers. They remove dead animals that would otherwise be left to stink and spread infection - and they do it completely free of charge for us.

Griffon vultures are curious birds that will pay close attention to what happens when you enter their territory. They feed on carrion, have a fantastic sense of smell, and can fly many miles to feed on a dead animal that they have smelled.

The place where the griffon vultures are fed is fenced so that the birds can eat undisturbed. There are also safe nesting sites that are used every year. However, several of the pairs have migrated out to nest in inaccessible places in the surrounding mountains. This bodes well for the future, but unless veterinary regulations are changed so that dead livestock can be left in the wild, it will be necessary to feed these birds regularly.

The griffon vulture is a large bird, nearly a meter long and with a wingspan of nearly 3 meters. The area around the feeding station and on the top of the mountain directly above are great places to see the griffon vultures up close.

Remember to bring binoculars if you have. It makes it easier to see the birds. The photos in this blog post were taken with a telephoto lens.

More excursions: www.turideer.com

Excursion of the week: Barranc del Cint in Alcoy and the mountain peak Les Pedreres with Griffon Vulture colony - hike in the mountains.

Suitable for: Everyone in normal physical shape, including children. There is a relatively large and long climb which can be strenuous, but this is a safe trip without dangerous parts.

Length: 10 km in total (round trip), approx. 2.5 - 3 hours. The top of Les Pedreres is 1053 meters above sea level.

Getting there: Write "Area recreativa de Preventorio Alcoy" on Google Maps. You will then come to a small car park on the right-hand side, close to the entrance to Barranc del Cint. The tour starts at the ruins of a disused factory on the right side of the road.

Contact Project Canyet: medi_ambient@alcoi.org

phone: +34 965 537 127

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