Exciting Steps for Vulture Conservation at Kaziranga National Park
Hey there, nature lovers! If you’ve ever marveled at the wildlife in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), India’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll be thrilled to hear about the latest efforts to save vultures. On Sunday, KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh shared some great news about vulture conservation initiatives that are bringing hope to these amazing birds.
With help from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and partners, India now houses around 800 vultures in eight conservation breeding centres across the country. The big plan? Release some of these captive-bred vultures right into Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. The central government, Assam government, and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) are teaming up for this, and they’re already in the planning stages.
Ghosh explained that once they get the green light from CZA, they’ll release 30 white-rumped vultures and five slender-billed vultures from the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre in Rani, Assam’s Kamrup district. These birds will head to the Nagshankar range in the park’s 6th addition. Right now, workers are building an aviary at the soft-release site, and the team is running awareness programs with local communities to get everyone on board. It’s all about making sure these vultures feel right at home!
Vulture populations in India took a massive hit in the mid-1990s due to poisoning from the drug diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in veterinary medicine. But things are looking up! India has banned diclofenac for animal use, and efforts continue to tackle other harmful NSAIDs like Aceclofenac, Nimesulide, and Ketoprofen in South Asia. Thanks to the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation in India (2020-2025), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Assam Forest Department, and BNHS have successfully bred three critically endangered species: white-rumped vultures, long-billed vultures, and slender-billed vultures.
To mark International Vulture Awareness Day, KNPTR hosted a lively Vulture Awareness Talk at their Bokakhat office. Over 35 students from J.D.S.G. College and C.N.B. College joined in, asking questions and getting involved. Biologist Gitartha Borah from BNHS led the session, chatting about why vultures matter as nature’s clean-up crew—they help keep ecosystems balanced and prevent disease spread. He covered the dangers of diclofenac poisoning and exciting conservation work in Assam and India to bring these birds back from the brink.
The event even went live on Kaziranga National Park’s official Facebook page, so people from everywhere could tune in and learn more. Students grilled Borah on vulture breeding, habitat protection, and cool projects like Assam’s Vulture Safe Zone initiative. The goal? Inspire young people to take action and protect these vital birds.
Kaziranga and its surrounding areas remain a top spot for vultures in India, and Ghosh stressed how community involvement is key to their survival. With these vulture conservation efforts picking up steam, the future looks brighter for these feathered friends. Stay tuned for more updates on wildlife protection in Assam—it’s inspiring stuff!
