Tagging was done by a UK-based bird protection society to monitor the movement of the endangered species.
A vulture found at the Konar Dam of Hazaribagh district spread panic in the entire area on Monday after it was found that a tracker device installed in Dhaka, Bangladesh was fitted on it.
Locals who found the vulture discovered the tracker device and a ring on its leg and were panicked considering it spy equipment of the neighbouring country, authorities said.
However, the forest department officials later cleared the matter terming a vulture an endangered species and took it for treatment.
The Hazaribag forest range officials said that a solar radio collar was found on the vulture with a note – “If found please contact john.mallord@rspb.org.uk OT.504g s/n 236226”. Additionally, a metallic ring was also on the leg of the vulture with the inscription – “GPO BOX - 2624 DHAKA, B67”.
The forest department contacted experts (Ornithologists) about the bird and it was identified as White Backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), which comes under the Schedule-1 category under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
When the Bombay National History Society (BNHS), which is an authorized organization for research on endangered birds in India, was contacted it was learnt that the organisation that has done radio tagging of the bird is the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), UK.
The tagging was done to prevent its extinction and continuously monitor this Critically Endangered bird. The tagging of the bird was done by the Dhaka-based team of (RSPB, UK), due to which Dhaka was marked on the ring on its paw.
According to the information shared by BNHS with the division, the bird was tagged on 15 May 2024 and it arrived at Konar Dam in Hazaribagh district on 08 August 2024. Before reaching Hazaribagh, the bird covered a total distance of 1214 kilometres and attained a maximum height of 921 meters.
After a total journey of 45 days, today it has been kept in the custody of the Forest Department for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, police are also investigating the matter.
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