Efforts to revive the dying vulture population in India and elsewhere are ongoing. The Jatayu (vulture) conservation project launched at the Tadoba and Andhari Tiger reserve a year ago by the Maharashtra forest department and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) aims to reestablish endangered vulture populations, reported mid-day (MD) of January 2, 2025. Ten endangered long-billed vultures brought from the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana, GPS tagged, were housed and subsequently released in pre-release aviaries in Maharashtra’s Pench and Tadoba Tiger Reserves.
Eurasian Griffon (l) and white rumped vulture
Photo: Wikipedia
"A white rumped vulture, satellite tagged at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in August last year, has travelled over 4,000 km to reach Tamil Nadu,” BNHS director Kishor Rithe told the daily. "The vulture moved from Maharashtra to Chhattisgarh, then to Gujarat, returned to Maharashtra, and finally travelled to Tamil Nadu via Karnataka,” he said.
Explaining why the raptor took this torturous route, Rithe explained that "sub-adult birds are very inquisitive and curious.” They frequently explore, especially captive bred birds which take time to learn and stop for feeding during long flights.
India’s vulture population had dropped alarmingly between 1990 and 2006 as large numbers died after feeding on cattle carcasses that had been treated with drugs like diclofenac. These drugs have since been banned for veterinary use. Conservation projects have revived the raptor populations in some states.
On December 12, 2024 a Eurasian Griffon Vulture, found in an unconscious state in the Wadala locality of Bombay was rescued and successfully treated by wildlife rescuers and veterinarians before being released into the wild on December 30. "It was severely dehydrated with nerve and joint injuries on its right limb, preventing it from walking or taking off,” Pawan Sharma, honorary wildlife warden, told MD. He is also president of the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare, a nongovernmental organization that believes in "rescue, conserve and co-exist.” The bird’s treatment included cage rest, pain management with cold laser therapy, followed by a spell of rehabilitation during which its appetite and motor movements improved significantly. S. V.