PTR’s two captive long-billed vultures found pairing in MP

 

 

 

In a first-of-its-kind event, two captive long-billed vultures also known as Indian vulture, that were kept in an aviary in Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) Maharashtra last year, are now pairing into the wild after their release. Last year, the Maharashtra Forest Department brought 20 vultures from Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC), Pinjore, Haryana and kept 10 White-backed in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and 10 Long-billed vultures in the PTR. After a few months, the department released all the 20 scavengers into the wild of which some survived. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is monitoring the daily movement of survived vultures in their natural habitat since their release with the help of Geo-tagging.

 

As per the latest development, two long-billed vultures who were released from the PTR into the wild are now feeding and doing activities together. The BNHS team, monitoring their movement, found that the pair is nesting somewhere in Madhya Pradesh (MP) side of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). “We are monitoring the scavengers and some time they change their place far from their nest. It is good that two captive vultures are now habitual of their new home and they are fit,” Kishor Rithe, Director, BNHS told The Hitavada.

 

“Out of 20 scavengers, only three are survived in which two are nesting together and one was captured by out team few days ago as it was struggling to survive in the wild,” Rithe added. As per the information, four Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres in West Bengal, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam have achieved success in conservation and breeding 750 vultures of three species -- White-backed, Long-billed and Slender-billed -- from looming extinction. Government of India started releasing these vultures in the wild since 2020. Eight critically endangered Oriental White-backed vultures were released into the wild for the first time in Haryana in 2021 and then, another batch of 31 vultures were released in West Bengal. These 20 scavengers were released in Maharashtra last year to check their survival rate which is now a success story for the Government.

 

 

In a boost to the Jatayu Conservation initiative in India, Maharashtra Forest Department and BNHS are planning to release another batch of 34 captive vultures, who are currently residing in specially constructed aviary in TATR, PTR and Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR), in October. “All the 34 vultures in three aviaries are doing well and started feeding with their wild counterparts. After the success of previous release, we are planning to release these vultures in October and we started preparation for the process,” said Rithe. “The release is a crucial initiative to restore central India’s critically endangered vulture populations. The selected birds, ranging from two to six-year-olds, underwent thorough health assessments to confirm their suitability for wild release,” said Rithe. The release will help to maintain a balance sex ratio and support natural breeding and ecological equilibrium, he added.