Bearded Vultures, a conservation success story

[Catherine]

Bearded vultures are a European Vulture that lives on bones. Their numbers declined greatly and in the 1980s. They started captive hatching and releasing 
young birds. In 1988, a male bird called Balthazar was released. He fathered the first chick hatched in the wild under this program. That was 37 years ago and he hasn't been seen in years. They found him alive in the French Alps. He is an old, frail bird, but he is still alive. Since his release his species has uncreased in numbers and has spread to more of its territory.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260...extinction

Conservation efforts are working. When animals are returned to their natural habitats, they survive and even thrive.
In Balthazar's case, they live a long time. Because he is so old and frail, Balthazar is now living at a conservation center. He will be cared for and live a quiet life. He has done his part for his species and other younger birds will carry on in his place.