They are making their comeback in Cyprus (Middle East). In September 2022, fifteen griffon vultures from Spain were reintroduced on the Mediterranean island. In the 1950s, several hundred vultures populated the island of Cyprus. Poisoning, hunting, and the gradual loss of their habitat have decimated the population. Griffon vultures play a key role in the Cypriot ecosystem. They are scavengers, they clean up the carcasses of animals that can spread disease.