ALL the 20 long-billed and white-rumped vultures that were released into the wild a few days ago from Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) and Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), after six months in captivity by the Forest Department are thriving well in the wild. In a recent development, one longbilled vulture (N24) of PTR was recently spotted dining on a wild chital carcass with other 17 white-rumped and 2 redheaded vultures. Similarly, one whiterumped vulture (N11) which was released into the wild in TATR, was recently spotted in Chhattisgarh after travelling through Gadchiroli district of Vidarbha.

 

“All the 20 vultures are fitted with radio collar and we are monitoring their movement 24x7. Accepting the company of their wild mates after their release is a big success for us in the project,” Kishor Rithe, Director, Bombay Natural History Society and Member of Maharashtra State Wildlife Board told The Hitavada. While talking about the white-rumped vultures of TATR, Rithe said, “After releasing the captive white-rumped vultures into the wild, all of them fed on the carcass with their wild mates near the aviary. But the good thing among that was that three among them preferred to fly with the wild vultures immediately after the release.” On the day of release, theforest team and BNHS spotted around 14 wild vultures inTATR whereas in Pench thenumber was around 19. Spotting so many wild vulturesin their natural habitat is a good sign and accepting our captive vultures in their groups is a big success on our side, said Rithe.

 

The Forest Department in partnership with BNHS brought 20 long-billed and white-rumped vultures to Maharashtra from the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Pinjour, Haryana in January this year. Till then, 10 long-billed vultures were kept in PTR and 10 whiterumped vultures were shifted to TATR in newly established vulture aviaries. Recently, all the 20 vultures were released into their natural habitat for their conservation purpose. This project aims to provide valuable insights into the habitat, distribution, and conservation status of these majestic birds.Therefore, the Forest Department is planning to bring another group of 20 vultures to these aviaries for their conservation.