A two-kilogram Egyptian vulture, known for its black and white plumage and distinctive yellow face, has returned to the Verdon Gorges in southern France. This area, once thought to have permanently lost the species, now hosts a small but growing population of these rare raptors. The vultures have been present in the region since 2007, with the first successful breeding recorded in 2011. However, their survival is now entirely dependent on human intervention, as natural food sources have dwindled due to changes in local agriculture and land use. For over a century, the skies above the Verdon Gorges had been free of vultures. These birds were once hunted and poisoned, and the decline of traditional pastoral farming reduced the availability of natural carrion. The situation began to change in 1999 when the griffon vulture, a larger species, started returning to the area. This marked the start of a gradual recovery for vultures in the region. A few years later, the smaller and rarer Egyptian vulture joined the return, nesting in the cliffs of the Verdon and successfully raising young by 2011. Unlike many other vulture species, the Egyptian vulture migrates to Africa in winter and returns to France in spring, aligning with the current season as they prepare for their annual journey south. Despite the apparent success of the Egyptian vulture’s return, the landscape of the Verdon Gorges has changed significantly since the birds disappeared. Traditional pastoral farming, which once provided ample food through dead animals, has declined. Modern farming practices now ensure that sick or dead animals are removed quickly, and large wild mammals that could serve as food sources are rare. As a result, Egyptian vultures in this area would struggle to find enough food on their own. Their survival is now dependent on a human-managed system of feeding stations that provide them with the necessary sustenance. To address this challenge, a system of feeding stations was established in 1999. These stations place sheep and goat carcasses in specific locations for the vultures to consume. This practice is authorized by an interministerial decree from 1998 and relies on the cooperation of volunteers from the Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux (LPO) and local farmers. Farmers who host these stations receive a reduction in their butchery tax, creating a mutual benefit between conservation efforts and agricultural practices. This system not only supports Egyptian vultures but also benefits other scavenging birds like the griffon and bearded vultures. The success of this model, pioneered in the Luberon Regional Natural Park in the 1980s, has now extended to the Verdon Gorges, offering a lifeline to these once-endangered birds.