Bearded Vulture

At the center is the head of an adult bearded vulture, a species threatened with extinction. The issuing country „ANDORRA" and the year „2025" appear below the bird.

The bearded vulture is regarded in Andorra as a symbol of the unique natural landscape shaped by this small Pyrenean state's high-mountain setting. With a wingspan of up to 2.90 meters, it is one of the largest birds of prey in Europe and was driven to extinction across much of its former range during the 20th century through poisoning, shooting, and habitat loss. A small residual population survived in the Pyrenees, which today serves as the basis for cross-border reintroduction programs. Andorra, whose territory consists almost entirely of mountains, is among the regions where the bearded vulture can still be regularly observed today — a sign that coordinated conservation efforts are having an effect.

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) occupies a special place in the food chain: it feeds almost exclusively on bones, which it drops from great heights onto rocks to reach the marrow. This ecological niche makes it an irreplaceable part of alpine ecosystems. The species is listed on the IUCN Red List and protected under international agreements such as the Bern Convention. In Andorra, conservation measures are closely intertwined with the country's tourist self-image — the untouched high plateaus of Comapedrosa or Vallnord are both habitat and showcase. With the 2025 2-euro commemorative coin, Andorra brings the bearded vulture into focus as both a threatened and emblematic species of the European mountains.