Analysis of a historical extirpation of the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus (L.) in the western Alps (France-Italy): Former distribution and causes of extirpation Original Research Article

Historical data on the former range and the temporal pattern and causes of extirpation of the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus in the western Alps are discussed. Bibliographical and museological research provided a list of 106 reference data (about 60% of which were original), concerning a minimum of 95 detailed records (65–67) birds shot, 20 field observations and 10 nest sites). These showed that during the 19th century the species was widespread from north to south along the inner-alpine axis of the western Alps, particularly in the southern half. At the beginning of the 20th century the range was already highly reduced and only five main areas were still occupied. Reproduction ceased around 1910, while the species probably survived for a further 15–20 years (last birds shot in 1920 and last alleged observations between 1924 and 1930). Extripation appears to have been a man-induced process, in its final and decisive phase at least. It is likely that other non-human causes of decline took place at an earlier phase, but the part they played in the process is not clearly ascertainable. Human persecution peaked during the last decades of the 19th century; population quickly decreased and final extirpation took place over only three or four decades.