Illegal base jumping in Mallorca: an osprey nest at risk

PalmA BASE jump from a prohibited area in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range has raised concerns among environmentalists in Mallorca. The video of the jump, circulated on social media, shows the activity taking place just meters from one of the few remaining active osprey nests, a species listed as vulnerable and currently beginning its breeding season. The Balearic Ornithological and Nature Defense Group (GOB) has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, requesting increased monitoring of sports and adventure activities in the Serra de Tramuntana to protect endangered wildlife. According to the statement, the jump was made from an exclusion zone designated by the Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN), which prohibits all recreational and sporting activities. The video, clearly identifiable, shows both the jumper and the person who retrieved them with a boat, as well as the name of the company that organized the activity. Environmentalists point out that the exclusion zone is precisely the area with the highest biological value or fragile natural elements, as established by the Law for the Conservation of Areas of Environmental Interest. The osprey has only 11 breeding pairs located in Mallorca last year, and any disturbance could seriously affect its reproductive success. The GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group) warns that the growth of adventure tourism and mountain sports can have negative impacts on species conservation and calls for responsibility from citizens and businesses. "Access restrictions to the most environmentally sensitive areas must be respected," insist the environmentalists, who demand immediate action to prevent similar incidents in the future.