For nearly 25 years, the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary has been dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey. Alongside caring for injured and orphaned raptors in our purpose-built, on-site hospital, we also build, erect and monitor our own wild owl nest boxes, which are erected across East Anglia. We educate thousands of visitors each year about owls and birds of prey and are committed to helping conserve some of the world's most threatened species.

Conservation has always been at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to work alongside organisations, including the Horstmann's Trust and to support the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) through collaborative conservation initiatives. By working in partnership with other wildlife organisations, we are able to share knowledge, resources and expertise, helping to achieve greater outcomes for wildlife than any one organisation could alone. As we look to the future, Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is committed to becoming a recognised centre of excellence for vulture conservation, supporting international breeding programmes and helping safeguard some of the world's most threatened species.

Several years ago, our pair of Hooded Vultures successfully bred and reared a healthy chick. This was a significant achievement and demonstrated that they are a proven breeding pair. Since then, they have continued to produce fertile eggs, but unfortunately, they no longer incubate them themselves. Each breeding season, we watch viable eggs that could contribute to the conservation of this species fail to hatch simply because the parents abandon incubation.

To maximise the chances of us successfully breeding Critically Endangered Hooded Vultures, we need a dedicated, purpose-built incubation room that provides a clean, quiet and biosecure environment where eggs and chicks can be carefully monitored without disturbance. The room should be temperature and humidity controlled to maintain stable conditions, with reliable ventilation and backup power to protect against equipment failure. It will house a specialist conservation incubator capable of accurately replicating the natural incubation process, alongside a brooder for newly hatched chicks if hand-rearing becomes necessary. The room should also include work surfaces for egg examination and record-keeping, handwashing and disinfection facilities to minimise the risk of infection, and secure storage for veterinary supplies and specialist equipment. Creating this controlled environment will significantly improve the chances of successfully hatching and rearing Hooded Vulture chicks, supporting the conservation of this Critically Endangered species.

The Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Over the past 50 years, it is estimated that more than 97% of the global population has been lost through poisoning, habitat loss, persecution, electrocution, collision with power infrastructure, and the illegal wildlife trade. In many areas, vultures are also deliberately poisoned by poachers seeking to conceal their activities, as circling vultures often reveal the location of illegally killed animals. Every fertile egg, therefore, represents an incredibly valuable opportunity to help secure the future of this remarkable species.

Vultures play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As nature's clean-up team, they rapidly remove animal carcasses from the landscape, helping to prevent the spread of diseases such as anthrax, rabies and botulism. By disposing of carrion quickly and efficiently, they reduce the risk of disease transmission to livestock, wildlife and people, making them one of the most important yet often overlooked species in the natural world. The continued decline of vultures has far-reaching consequences, affecting both biodiversity and human health.

With the setup of this new incubation facility, we estimate that we could successfully rear as many as ten Hooded Vultures over the next five years. For a species facing such dramatic declines, every bird hatched is another step towards protecting its future. These chicks would not only strengthen the managed conservation population but also contribute to international breeding efforts for one of the world's rarest vultures.

Every successful hatch brings hope. Every chick strengthens the future of the species. With your support, we can give these extraordinary birds the very best chance of survival.