Rescued in CG, Himalayan Griffin Vulture reaches Nepal

Raipur: Chhattisgarh achieved a notable milestone in wildlife conservation with the successful rehabilitation of a Himalayan Griffon Vulture, named Jatayu, which was rescued from Bilaspur. After treatment at Nandanvan Zoo and radio-telemetry tagging, the vulture was released on April 11, 2025, and completed a 1,165 km journey through Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar to reach Nepal's Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary. The continuous monitoring effort, supported by the Wildlife Institute of India, provided valuable ecological insights. Two other vultures—a White-rumped Vulture and an Egyptian Vulture—were also successfully rescued and released, underscoring the Chhattisgarh Forest Department's commitment to avian conservation.The vulture's journey included crossing major rivers like the Ganga and Koshi and traversing diverse terrains, indicating that the bird is in good health and exhibiting natural behaviour. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, supported the operation by using radio telemetry technology to track the vulture's movements. This technology provided valuable insights into Jatayu's migration path, roosting sites, and ecological behaviour. A White-rumped Vulture, rescued earlier from the Bhanupratappur region, was tagged by BNHS Mumbai and released from Nandanvan Jungle Safari after initial treatment. It initially flew towards the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and is currently active near Bartara village in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, an Egyptian Vulture, rescued from the Raipur-Bilaspur highway, was treated and released and is now regularly sighted around the Abhanpur area in Nava Raipur.Dhammsheel Ganveer, director of Nandanvan Jungle Safari, commented on the achievement, stating, "This is a major accomplishment for our state of Chhattisgarh. It will further aid in the monitoring and conservation of both native and migratory bird species."