On Monday the Vlaanders chapter of BirdLife International left 200 kilograms of pig meat in a field in Ninove, outside of Brussels, in an attempt to feed the large groups of Eurasian Griffon Vultures that have invaded the lowlands in recent days. The birds normally live in southern Spain but have flown as far north as Friesland in Holland in a desperate search for food.
BirdLife Vlaanders hoped the birds would feed on the meat and gain strength for their eventual return to Spain. Unfortunately the vultures did not discover the meat and continued their flight north.
Flemish Environment Minister Kris Peeters vocally opposed the plan and intended to meat with BirdLife representatives on Tuesday.
The Belgian Farmer Trade Union (ABS) also opposed the plan and planned to file a complaint with the Belgian federal food agency. According to the ABS, it is illegal to dump such animal products in a field without a permit.
EU regulations were recently put into place to disallow farmers to leave cattle carcasses on their land. A shortage of food for the scavenging Eurasian Griffon Vultures has meant that the birds are venturing far from their home but with little hope of finding suitable carrion on which to feed. The regulations were put into place to prevent the spread of diseases among cattle such as botulism, BSE and other illnesses.
