After successful release of 20 White-backed and Long-billed vultures in the wild last year, the Maharashtra Forest Department received another batch of 34 scavengers, including 20 Long-billed and 14 White-backed vultures, on Tuesday. On the occasion of World Earth day, these 34 vultures were handed over to the Maharashtra Forest Department at Pinjore in Haryana. The birds are being transferred from Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore to Maharashtra for reintroduction into the wild. As part of India’s ongoing vulture reintroduction programme, a total of 34 captive-bred vultures were transferred from the JCBC, Pinjore, to three key sites in Maharashtra - Melghat, Pench, and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserves.

 

The transfer marks a significant step in reviving the critically endangered vulture populations in central India. “The vultures are aged between 2 to 6 years and were chosen following comprehensive health checks to ensure their fitness for release into the wild,” Kishor Rithe, Director, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) told The Hitavada. To maintain ecological balance and support successful breeding in the wild, the birds were carefully distributed across all three locations, ensuring a balanced sex ratio at each site, informed Rithe.

 

The vultures have been transported in individual wooden boxes, one bird per box to minimise stress and ensure safety during the journey. Prior to transportation, the birds were last fed two days in advance as per the standard protocol. The birds are being moved in three air-conditioned Tempo Travellers to maintain optimal temperature and ventilation throughout the transit. The team has been led by Rundan Katkar, RFO, Kolsa, TATR, and was supported by Dr Mayank Barde, Veterinarian from PTR, Manan Mahadev, Senior Biologist, BNHS, along with two forest guards—one each from TATR and PTR. Chief Wildlife Warden of Haryana Vivek Saxena, Chief Wildlife Warden of Maharashtra Srinivasa Rao and Director BNHS Kishor Rithe are monitoring and guiding the entire operation.

 

The BNHS has set up the four Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centres across the country in partnership with the Government of Haryana in Pinjore, the Government of Madhya Pradesh in Bhopal, the Government of West Bengal in Rajabhatkhawa and the Government of Assam in Rani, Guwahati. Through this conservation breeding programme, BNHS has contributed in securing the future of vultures in India by breeding more than 700 birds in captivity since 2004 with support from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the respective State Governments and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The Forest Department of Maharashtra has set up the three pre-release aviaries in three Tiger Reserves of Vidarbha region to follow the protocol of soft release. The birds are expected to reach their respective aviaries in the next two days, informed Rithe.