Vultures

India's vultures stage comeback as captive-breeding efforts gather pace

Two decades after toxic veterinary drugs cleared India's skies of its ultimate scavengers, vultures are making a comeback with more than 700 birds bred in captivity and phased wild-release programmes turning protected tiger reserves into their new safe havens. Led by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and state governments, the recovery initiative for the critically endangered white-rumped, long-billed, and slender-billed vulture species has entered a vital new phase with experimental releases across Haryana, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Assam, BNHS director Kishor Rithe said. Moreover, monitoring through GPS and GSM transmitters has already shown encouraging survival and dispersal patterns, with a long-billed vulture released from Pench travelling 750 km to Nashik, Maharashtra, in 17 days. Rithe, however, noted that long-term success would depend on the availability of safe food sources beyond protected areas, such as sanctuaries, national parks and conservation ...

Agreed to ban two veterinary drugs to conserve vultures: Centre to Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court was informed on Tuesday that experts have agreed to ban two veterinary drugs used for the treatment of livestock because of their adverse impact on vultures. The statement was made by the Health Ministry and Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) in a public interest litigation (PIL) by lawyer Gaurav Bansal raising concerns about the decline in the vulture population allegedly on account of the use of certain veterinary drugs. "The matter was referred to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare for their expert opinion. "Further, the matter was examined by the DAHD in consultation with the subject experts and it was recommended to impose a ban on the veterinary drugs Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac for treatment of livestock to conserve vultures," the reply affidavit dated July 21 said. It stated that "the matter was deliberated and further it was agreed to prohibit the manufacture, sal

90 sheeps, 8 vultures die after being hit by 2 trains in Balrampur

As many as 90 sheep and eight vultures died on Sunday after being hit by two trains in Balrampur

Vulture population increases in Uttar Pradesh's Amangarh Tiger Reserve

The Amangarh Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a rise in the population of vultures.

In a first, India to release 8 captive-reared vultures with tracking device

India is home to nine species of vultures