A new initiative aimed at conserving critically endangered vultures has been launched at the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district.
Under the programme, villagers will be encouraged to dump animal carcasses at designated sites to ensure a steady food supply for these scavenger birds.
The conservation effort, named 'Jatayu Gram Mitra,' is a joint venture between the Pench Tiger Reserve and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) based in Mumbai. Deputy Director of PTR, Prabhu Nath Shukla, stated, “The collaboration focuses on the restoration and conservation of critically endangered vulture species.”
In January, ten long-billed vultures, also known as Indian vultures, were brought from the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana, and housed in a pre-release aviary at East Pench in Pipariya.
These vultures have been kept in the aviary to acclimatise them to the wild environment of the PTR.
Over the last few months, they have been interacting with wild vultures outside the aviary, which has facilitated their adaptation to the natural habitat.
Following these successful interactions, the vultures were released into the wild on August 10.
The extinction of traditional carcass dumping sites, due to cultural shifts, has led to a decline in available food for vultures, which are natural scavengers.
To counter this, the 'Jatayu Gram Mitra Programme' was launched on Vulture Conservation Day, celebrated on September 7, to revive the practice of dumping animal carcasses in bushy forest areas outside villages.
The initiative will continue until the next Vulture Conservation Day on September 6, 2025.
Livestock owners will receive financial support to cover the transportation costs for dumping dead animals.
Only animals that have died due to natural causes, such as old age or illness, and have not received recent medical treatment will be allowed at these designated sites, ensuring no harmful residues affect the vultures.
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