The Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace (SPBT) is participating in the LIFE program titled “Restoration of the Cinereous Vulture population and its food chain in the Bulgarian-Greek border area” (LIFE23-NAT-BG-LIFE Rhodope Vulture). Our main activities include assessing the impacts of wind farms and the effects of the illegal use of poisoned baits in Thrace, with the participation of the SPBT’s anti-poison dog unit, Elzbieta and Dalton.

After two years (July 2024–June 2026) of surveying for dead birds and bats at just 12 of the 276 wind turbines in Thrace, walking within a radius of up to 200 meters around each wind turbine and conducting 170 patrols, the findings can be summarized as follows: 1 buzzard, 15 small birds, and 115 bats. These specific incidents are presented in the publicly accessible database on our website here. Our dog, Dalton, has demonstrated significantly higher effectiveness compared to the handler, Elzbieta, with an estimated detection rate of approximately 90%, while the handler alone achieved only 50%. here. Our dog Dalton has demonstrated significantly higher efficiency compared to the handler, Elizabeth, with an estimated detection rate of approximately 90%, while the handler alone only achieved 50%.