INPA Marks "Vulture Month"

"Vulture Month": Protecting the King of Birds! As part of Vulture Month, which begins in October, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) invites the public to participate in a variety of activities at national parks and nature reserves across the country. These activities offer a chance to discover the world of vultures and learn about the efforts to protect their population in Israel, which is currently facing a severe threat of extinction.

The vulture, the largest of Israel's diurnal birds of prey and one of the most prominent symbols of Israeli nature, is critically endangered. The vulture population in Israel is small, and every individual is of great importance for its continued existence and recovery. According to data from 2026, the vulture population in Israel was estimated at 210-220 individuals and 53 active nests across the country. The Nature and Parks Authority works throughout the year to preserve the population through monitoring, tracking, and recovery efforts, aiming to ensure the continued presence of vultures in Israel's skies.

Vulture Month is marked annually in September, coinciding with International Vulture Awareness Day. This year, due to the Tishrei holidays, the Nature and Parks Authority chose to hold the activities during the month of October. A variety of activities for the general public will take place at national parks and nature reserves across the country. These activities are designed to raise awareness about the status of vultures in Israel, introduce the public to their importance in the ecosystem, reveal the threats to their survival and the actions being taken to protect them, and encourage the public to take part in the effort to preserve wildlife.

Mazi Magnezi, Director of the Information and Education Department at the Nature and Parks Authority: "The vulture is one of the most impressive and unique animals in Israeli nature, but the vulture population in Israel is in severe danger of extinction. Vulture Month is an opportunity to expose the public to the fascinating world of vultures, learn about the challenges they face, and understand the great importance of protecting them. We invite the public to visit the national parks and nature reserves, participate in the various activities, learn about vultures and their important role in nature, and see the efforts being made to protect them. Getting to know wildlife and understanding the importance of preserving it are integral parts of the effort to conserve nature, so that future generations can also enjoy the sight of the King of Birds soaring in the country's skies."

The Nature and Parks Authority reminds the public to keep their distance and not to approach, touch, or feed wild animals, even for photography purposes. If you encounter a wild animal, keep your distance and allow it to continue on its way.

If you notice an animal that is injured, in distress, or posing a threat to hikers, please immediately contact the Nature and Parks Authority hotline at *3639. For more information about vultures in Israel, the threats to their population, and conservation actions, you can visit the Nature and Parks Authority website: https://www.parks.org.il/nesher/

What's on the program?

In the North, at the Gamla Nature Reserve: Special tours will be held where visitors will learn about the world of vultures, the dangers threatening them, and the efforts to protect and save them. At the Hai-Bar Carmel Nature Reserve, visitors can meet vultures up close, learn about the threats to their population and conservation efforts, and participate in experiential information stations where they will learn about their wingspan, their eggs, and the means used to track them.

In the South, at the Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve: Special tours will be held where visitors will get to know the vulture breeding core, learn about their importance to the ecosystem and the efforts to return them to the wild, and participate in behind-the-scenes tours, animal feedings, and craft activities for children.

In the South, at the En Avdat National Park: A special activity day for the whole family will be held in honor of Vulture Month, during which visitors can learn about the world of vultures and raptors in the Negev, participate in observations through telescopes, meet the "Vulture Patrol" volunteers, and enjoy craft stations, games, and guided instruction.

For more details on Vulture Month activities at national parks and nature reserves across the country, you can visit the Nature and Parks Authority website:

https://www.parks.org.il/category/nesher/