Recovery plan of the Balearic Shearwater

The Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), called Virot in the Pitiüses islands, is the only endemic bird of the Balearics. There are an estimated 3,500 couples, that put it in the doubtful privilege of being members of the club of species with the lowest number in the world. The only colonies of the species on Mallorca can be found in the extreme south west of the island, three of them namely on the Andratx coast.

The Council of Environment of the Govern de les Illes Balears, together with the SEO/BirdLife, the Parc Nacional de Cabrera and the Generalitat de Catalunya have been carrying out for a few years the European project LIFE "Action plan of the Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) in the SPAs of the Balearic Islands" with the aim to assuring the viability of the existing colonies, and to increase the number of colonies and range of distribution of the species, promoting the reintroduction in favourable places. More information on the web of the Virot project.

Date of publication: 07/03/2000

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