2020 - The master of vultures - Maysun Visual Journalist & Storyteller

2020 - The master of vultures

The Master of Vultures.

For more than 30 years, a married couple has lived by and for the vultures. In his farmhouse in Valderrobres, in the Matarranya region of Teruel, José Ramón Moragrega, (aka Vulture man), feeds hundreds of griffon vultures while Dolores –"Loli"– Carrasco, (Vulture woman), ensures that the humans who come to her observatory keep quiet.

José Ramón, an industrial engineer, worked for 35 years in the merchant navy and later as a rabbit farmer before dedicating his life to taking care of the griffon vulture, his great passion, in his home region, Matarranya, in the province of Teruel .
View of griffon vultures resting after being fed by Jose Ramón. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
José Ramón Moragrega (aka Vulture man), poses for a portrait. An industrial engineer, he worked for 35 years in the merchant navy and later as a rabbit farmer before dedicating his life to taking care of the griffon vulture, his passion generated, in his native region, Matarranya, in the province of Teruel. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
View of Loli's shadow as she waits for visitors to arrive at the observatory to begin their visit. Dolores (Loli) Carrasco, alias Buitrewoman, is the couple of Jose Ramón, Buitreman and the one who manages Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Mountains of the Three Kings, in the region of the Aragonese Matarraña, province of Teruel. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
Visitors walk silently through the covered slope of the mountain towards the secret entrance of the farmhouse, in order not to scare off the vultures. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
Loli observes through her binoculars how some vultures settle to sleep in the treetops, sheltered by the mountain. Dolores (Loli) Carrasco, alias Buitrewoman, is the couple of Jose Ramón, Buitreman and the one who manages Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Mountains of the Three Kings, in the region of the Aragonese Matarraña, province of Teruel. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
View of dozens of griffon vultures preparing to be fed by Jose Ramón. Vultures are highly sensitive and intelligent animals. They sleep in the treetops at the foot of the mountain and only come down after recognizing the sound of the engine of the "vulture man" car. Every day they can be grouped on September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
A family observes vultures flying from the Mas de Bunyol observatory. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
A vulture painted by a local artist decorates the secret entrance to the farmhouse, used in order not to scare off the vultures. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain ©MAYSUN.
José Ramón Moragrega (aka Vulture man), poses for a portrait. An industrial engineer, he worked for 35 years in the merchant navy and later as a rabbit farmer before dedicating his life to taking care of the griffon vulture, his passion generated, in his native region, Matarranya, in the province of Teruel. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
Jose Ramón feeds hundreds of vultures daily with rabbit meat and dead animals from the slaughterhouse. The daily ritual must always be the same: Dark clothes, the same hours, the same movements. If someone they don't know approaches, or they see something strange, the vultures will flee and it will take weeks to regain their trust. They are extremely sensitive animals. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
Flock of vultures after getting scared while Jose Ramón feeds them. Vultureman feeds hundreds of vultures daily with rabbit meat and dead animals from the slaughterhouse. The daily ritual must always be the same: Dark clothes, the same hours, the same movements. If someone they don't know approaches, or they see something strange, the vultures will flee and it will take weeks to regain their trust. They are extremely sensitive animals. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
Photographic montage of Vultureman and Vulturewoman, a gift from one of the observatory visitors. The couple has been caring for the griffon vulture in the Matarranya region for more than forty years. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
Dolores (Loli) Carrasco, alias Buitrewoman, is the couple of Jose Ramón, Buitreman and the one who manages Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Mountains of the Three Kings, in the region of the Aragonese Matarraña, province of Teruel. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain ©MAYSUN.
Loli prepares the rooms for visitors who decide to spend the night at the farmhouse. Dolores (Loli) Carrasco, alias Buitrewoman, is the couple of Jose Ramón, Buitreman and the one who manages Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Mountains of the Three Kings, in the region of the Aragonese Matarraña, province of Teruel. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
View of the hands of Jose Ramón, while he relaxes at home after finishing the last visit. José Ramón Moragrega (aka Buitreman), poses for a portrait. An industrial engineer, he worked for 35 years in the merchant navy and later as a rabbit farmer before dedicating his life to taking care of the griffon vulture, his passion generated, in his native region, Matarranya, in the province of Teruel. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
View of Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Montañas de los tres Reyes, in the Aragonese Matarraña region, province of Teruel. The house, totally self-managed and "off grid", was entirely designed and built by Jose Ramón and a friend. and September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
Jose Ramón makes sure, while talking on the phone, that the "machine room", where the solar energy installation that supplies the farm is located, is in good condition. Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Montañas de los tres Reyes, in the Aragonese Matarraña region, province of Teruel. The house, totally self-managed and "off grid", was entirely designed and built by Jose Ramón and a friend. and September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
Work utensils in the "machine room", where the solar energy installation that supplies the farm is located. Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Mountains of the Three Kings, in the Aragonese Matarraña region, province of Teruel. The house, totally self-managed and "off grid", was entirely designed and built by Jose Ramón and a friend. and September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
José Ramón Moragrega (aka Vulture man), greets his two Dalmatian dogs while checking that everything is in order on the farm. An industrial engineer, he worked for 35 years in the merchant navy and later as a rabbit farmer before dedicating his life to taking care of the griffon vulture, his passion generated, in his native region, Matarranya, in the province of Teruel. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
Loli and Jose Ramón chat in their living room, whose double-opening fireplace he designed and built with his own hands, after finishing one of his visits to the observatory. The couple has been caring for the griffon vulture in the Matarranya region for more than forty years. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
After finishing the visits at the observatory, the couple performs other tasks on the farm and prepares everything for the next day. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
Loli prepares dinner after a long day at work. Dolores (Loli) Carrasco, alias Buitrewoman, is the couple of Jose Ramón, Buitreman and the one who manages Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Montañas de los tres Reyes, in the region of the Aragonese Matarraña, province of Teruel. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
Loli manages the visits she has prepared for that day. Dolores (Loli) Carrasco, alias Buitrewoman, is the couple of Jose Ramón, Buitreman and the one who manages Mas de Bunyol, the only observatory of its kind in the world, located in front of the foothills of the Montañas de los tres Reyes, in the region of the Aragonese Matarraña, province of Teruel. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain. ©MAYSUN.
Like every day, Loli and Jose Ramón greet their donkeys, rescued from the slaughterhouse, which live on their farm. Dolores (Loli) Carrasco, alias Buitrewoman, Jose Ramón's partner, and the one that manages Mas de Bunyol, which is the only observatory of its kind in the world, which is located in front of the foothills of the Montañas de los tres Reyes, in the Aragonese Matarraña region, Teruel province. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain ©MAYSUN.
Like every day, Loli takes care of her donkeys, rescued from the slaughterhouse, which live on her farm. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel, Spain ©MAYSUN.
José Ramón Moragrega (aka Vulture man), poses for a portrait. An industrial engineer, he worked for 35 years in the merchant navy and later as a rabbit farmer before dedicating his life to taking care of the griffon vulture, his passion generated, in his native region, Matarranya, in the province of Teruel. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
View of an adult Griffon Vulture resting in the sun after being fed by Jose Ramón. September 5, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.
José Ramón Moragrega (aka Vulture man), walks through his farm in Mas Bunyol. An industrial engineer, he worked for 35 years in the merchant navy and later as a rabbit farmer before dedicating his life to taking care of the griffon vulture, his passion generated, in his native region, Matarranya, in the province of Teruel. September 4, 2020. Valderrobres, Matarranya, Teruel. ©MAYSUN.