Bulgarian motorway poised to carve up wildlife haven

Bears, birds and butterflies at risk as Bulgaria prepares to build EU-funded road through the stunning Kresna valley conservation area

Bulgaria is planning to carve a motorway to Greece through a spectacular gorge famed for its golden eagles, griffon vultures and peregrine falcons, in defiance of an EU order to tunnel the road.

The 11-mile Kresna valley is also a crucial migratory path for bears, wolves and jackals, with a warm micro-climate that bridges the southern fringe of the Balkans with the northern tip of the Mediterranean.