To mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2009, releases were made in two Alpine parks: one at Mallnitz in the Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria) and the other at Vignols in the Mercantour National Park (France), the latter attended by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Bearded vultures are classified in the list of the eight most endangered species in Europe. The bearded vulture is the largest bird of prey found on the continent.

In the Austrian park the resettlement of bearded vultures is considered as one of the most successful projects to protect wildlife species. This is the fourth time that two young bearded vultures have been released as part of an international initiative to preserve wildlife diversity in the Alps.

The releases in France involved the last birds to be hatched as part of a captive breeding programme. The breeding programme was designed to consolidate the indigenous populations found in the Alps and Corsica and is part of an international programme to protect this iconic mountain bird of prey. A census carried out in February indicated that the bearded vulture population in the Alps is now capable of maintaining its numbers independently.