Maharashtra: 10 Long Billed Vultures Released In Pench Tiger Reserve Â
Maharashtra: 10 Long Billed Vultures Released In Pench Tiger Reserve Â
14/August/2024
In a major achievement for wildlife conservation, the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra, in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), has successfully reintroduced critically endangered long-billed vultures into their natural environment. This ambitious initiative began on January 21, 2024, when 10 long-billed vultures were transported to Pench from the Jatayu Conservation & Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana. The vultures were kept in a pre-release aviary at the Bodalzira beat in the East Pench range, where they spent the last seven months adapting and interacting with local wild vultures.
After months of meticulous preparation and observation, the pivotal moment arrived on August 10. A chital carcass was carefully placed outside the aviary to lure wild vultures. Following a brief delay caused by rain, the aviary gates were opened around 3 PM. As wild vultures gathered around the carcass, the long-billed vultures stepped out, experiencing their first taste of freedom in their natural habitat.
The feeding frenzy was quick and effective. In no time, all vultures, both released and wild, devoured the entire carcass, indicating the success of the reintroduction process. The aviary was designed to draw in wild vultures, and as soon as the gates were opened, the long-billed vultures dove into an exciting feeding frenzy alongside their wild peers. Each vulture was equipped with a GPS tag for continuous monitoring.
Notable figures such as Praveen Pardeshi, the president of BNHS, and Kishor Rithe, the director of BNHS, witnessed the vulture reintroduction, along with RFO Vivek Rajurkar, Pench veterinarian Dr. Nikhil Bangar, conservation breeding specialist Dr. Kazveen Umrigar, BNHS biologist Manan Singh Mahadev, and field staff.
