New Board Game Simulates Conservation Challenges for Endangered Black Kite

The "Proyecto Milaneta" board game has been introduced as an educational tool designed to illustrate the conservation challenges associated with the Black Kite (*Milvus migrans*), a raptor species experiencing a significant population decline across the Iberian Peninsula. This learning instrument integrates recreation and public awareness by simulating the operational realities of the captive breeding program managed by the Wildlife Recovery Center of Aragon (CRFS), which operates under SARGA and began its dedicated efforts in 2006.

Participants in the game navigate simulated threats that directly imperil the species in the wild, including high-tension power lines, wind turbines, poisoning incidents, and fatal collisions. These simulated obstacles mirror actual hazards monitored by conservationists, often through GPS tracking of kites released back into their natural habitat. The game mechanics, which typically conclude within an hour, allow up to five players to engage either competitively or collaboratively, employing strategy cards that represent verifiable conservation interventions.

The development involved the game's originator, Alberto Montero, alongside scientific consultants from the CRFS, including Jorge Rucio and veterinarian María Cortés. The initiative has received institutional support, with the Government of Aragon committing to procure one hundred copies for public library distribution. This local recovery effort aligns with broader European initiatives, such as the LIFE EUROKITE project, which targets the Black Kite alongside the Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle, and Imperial Eagle. Running from 2020 to 2024, LIFE EUROKITE aims to reduce anthropogenic mortality across twelve countries through telemetry tracking, seeking a five percent reduction in poisoning cases at the EU level and resolution of electrocution and collision incidents.

Proyecto Milaneta was formally launched in Zaragoza in May 2025, near the La Alfranca Wildlife Recovery Center, which pioneered red kite captive breeding in 2006. The creators are currently preparing an English-language version to support the objectives of the European LIFE Eurokite project. The CRFS in Aragon recently marked a milestone, recording the birth of its 150th chick on April 24, 2025, a result of established protocols for pair management and artificial incubation. The Black Kite, a medium-sized migratory bird with a wingspan near 150 cm, is distinguished from the Red Kite by its smaller size and less forked tail. Current European population estimates range between 81,200 and 109,000 pairs, though the overall population trend remains uncertain.