Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: Conservationists released ten captive-bred vultures into the wild on August 7. This event marked a global first. The release occurred at the Jatayu Soft Release Centre in the Biswanath district. Officials from the Assam forest department and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) managed the project. They have collaborated on this program since 2007.
The group included five slender-billed vultures and five white-rumped vultures. These birds spent three months in an aviary to adjust to their surroundings. Authorities used a remote pulley system to open the enclosure. This prevented human disturbance. Researchers tracked the birds using CCTV feeds from a nearby tower. Each vulture carries a numbered blue leg ring and a back tag for identification.
India's vulture population crashed by 99 percent over the last twenty years. Toxic veterinary drugs like diclofenac triggered this collapse. Authorities also banned aceclofenac, ketoprofen, and nimesulide to stop further losses. Pesticides on livestock carcasses remain a secondary threat. Officials urged the public to report sightings of the tagged birds to aid tracking efforts.
Environment Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah oversaw the operation. He praised the work of conservation teams and local staff. “The return of these vultures to the wild is an encouraging step towards securing the future of these critically endangered species. Their recovery is essential for maintaining ecological balance and reflects the collective efforts of conservation professionals, frontline staff and local communities,” Baruah said.
Several officials attended the event, including MLA Pallab Lochan Das, Special Chief Secretary M Yadav, Chief Wildlife Warden Vinay Gupta, Kaziranga National Park Director C Ramesh, and BNHS Deputy Director Sachin Ranade. The minister also inaugurated local tourism and conference facilities during his visit to the region.
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