https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The Return of Long-Billed Vultures

Critically endangered long-billed vultures have been successfully reintroduced into Pench Tiger Reserve, marking a significant milestone in conservation. Read the article to learn more about it…
Indian Masterminds Stories

The conservation landscape in India has witnessed a significant milestone with the successful reintroduction of critically endangered long-billed vultures into their natural habitat at Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. This remarkable achievement, orchestrated by the Pench Tiger Reserve in partnership with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), marks a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to save and revive vulture populations, which have seen a catastrophic decline over the past few decades.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, 2011 batch IFS officer Prabhu Nath Shukla (Maharashtra Cadre), who is the Deputy Director of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, shared about the re-introduction journey in detail. 

A Grim Past: The Decline of Vultures

The journey toward this success began in the shadow of a grim reality. “Between the early 1990s and the 2000s, the vulture population in India faced an unprecedented decline, with numbers plummeting by an alarming 90-99%,” Mr. Shukla informed. The primary cause of this drastic reduction was the widespread use of the veterinary drug diclofenac, which, when ingested by vultures feeding on carcasses of treated cattle, caused fatal kidney failure in these birds. This ecological catastrophe threatened to push vultures, once abundant across the Indian subcontinent, to the brink of extinction.

Recognizing the urgent need for action, the Indian government, along with various conservation organizations, initiated a series of measures aimed at reversing the vulture population’s downward spiral. Among these was the establishment of the Jatayu Conservation & Breeding Center in Pinjore, Haryana—the first of its kind in the country—dedicated to the breeding and conservation of these magnificent scavengers.

The Reintroduction Process

Fast forward to January 21, 2024, when a group of 10 long-billed vultures bred at the Jatayu Conservation & Breeding Center was transported to Pench Tiger Reserve. This marked the beginning of the meticulously planned reintroduction process. Upon arrival, the vultures were housed in a pre-release aviary located in the central Bodalzira beat of the East Pench Piparia Range. “For the next seven months, these vultures were acclimatized to their new environment, a process that involved close interaction with the small wild vulture population already present in the reserve,” the officer said. 

The acclimatization period was not without its challenges. The summer months brought temperatures soaring above 45 degrees Celsius, a harsh condition for both the vultures and the forest department tasked with ensuring their well-being. Additionally, one of the vultures fell ill during this period, raising concerns about the health and adaptability of the entire group. Identifying the gender of vultures—a task not easily accomplished through visual inspection—added another layer of complexity to the project. However, with the expertise of BNHS and the dedication of the forest department, DNA samples were collected to determine the gender of each vulture, ensuring that the group had a balanced mix of males and females.

The Moment of Release

After months of preparation, the crucial moment arrived on August 10, 2024. The doors of the aviary were opened, and the long-billed vultures were finally allowed to venture out into the wild. However, the transition from captivity to freedom was not as smooth as expected. “The vultures, initially hesitant and scared, lingered inside the aviary. It was only when a group of wild vultures attracted by a strategically placed chital carcass outside the aviary arrived at the scene that the captive vultures found the courage to follow them out,” Mr. Shukla informed Indian Masterminds

This moment of interaction between the released and wild vultures was a critical indicator of the reintroduction’s success.

Ongoing Monitoring 

To ensure the long-term success of the reintroduction, each of the released vultures was fitted with PTT (GPS) tags. These tags enable the forest department and BNHS to monitor the movements of the vultures, track their feeding habits, and detect any health issues that may arise. This continuous monitoring is essential to understanding how well the vultures adapt to their new environment and whether they can successfully sustain themselves in the wild.

As IFS officer Prabhu Nath Shukla, Deputy Director of Pench Tiger Reserve, explained, “We attached GPS tags on them to monitor their movement and to know if they can get food in the natural habitat or not. For all this, regular monitoring is required.”

Reviving Traditional Practices

The reintroduction of long-billed vultures is not just about replenishing the vulture population; it also serves as a ray of hope for the revival of traditional practices that once supported these birds. In the past, villagers would leave cattle carcasses in designated areas, providing a reliable food source for vultures. Over time, this practice has faded, leading to a scarcity of food for these scavengers. The forest department, recognizing the importance of this practice, is now working to revive it, ensuring that vultures have ample food supplies to sustain themselves.

A Model for Future Conservation Efforts

The success of the long-billed vulture reintroduction in Pench Tiger Reserve has far-reaching implications for wildlife conservation in India. As Deputy Director Prabhu Nath Shukla noted, this project could serve as a model for similar conservation efforts across the country, not only for vultures but for other critically endangered species as well. “The lessons learned from this endeavor can be applied to the conservation of other species, such as the lesser florican, which faces similar threats of extinction.”

In a world where species are disappearing at an alarming rate, the successful reintroduction of long-billed vultures into their natural habitat stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, dedication, and a commitment to preserving our planet’s biodiversity. As these vultures soar once again over the forests of Pench, they carry with them the hopes of a brighter, more sustainable future for all endangered species.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT