Bearded Vultures once were found in almost all mountain ranes of southern Europe and in the Alpes. Probably no other raptor made such a deep impression on people, as is shown by the numerous fables and legends that were created about them. The peaceful bird was presented as a blood-thristy beast, which would not hesitate even to take children away. The payment of rewards for shooting and capturing led to systematic persecution. Other reasons for the decline and, in some parts, extermination of the species were the use of poisoned baits, shooting for zoological collections and, in some areas, a scarcity of food resources.