From 14 to 17 July, 2025 five young red kites were hosted in a CERM aviary. The birds originated from the La Alfranca Wildlife Recovery Centre in Aragon, Spain. After a brief rest at CERM, they were transferred to the Aspromonte National Park, where they will be released into the wild. Currently, a reintroduction programme for the red kite is underway in the Calabrian protected area as part of the Milvus LIFE Project, coordinated by the Park Authority. The CERM Association is also a partner in the programme, which focuses on releasing young red kites taken from donor nests or born in captivity. The five red kites that stopped at CERM were born at the La Alfranca Recovery Centre in Aragón, a pioneering facility for captive breeding, which reached the extraordinary milestone of the 150th red kite born on April 14, 2025. Some of the hatchlings are released into the wild in Aragon, while others are donated to other Spanish regions and European countries for restocking and reintroduction programmes. At CERM, the red kites were equipped with GPS devices and then prepared for the final transfer to the Aspromonte National Park, carried out by the Milvus LIFE Project manager and the president of the CERM Association. On the evening of July 17, the birds of prey were placed in an aviary at the Park’s release centre, and after a few days of acclimatization, they will be free to fly in the Aspromonte skies.
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