Assam records world’s first-ever release of captive-bred slender-billed vultures
Five captive-bred slender-billed vultures were released into the wild in Assam, marking a global first for the conservation of this critically endangered species. The initiative, led by the Bombay Natural History Society and the state forest department, aims to restore vulture populations decimated by toxic veterinary drugs.
Why it matters
This represents a significant milestone in avian conservation and biodiversity restoration efforts in South Asia.
Five slender-billed vultures bred in captivity at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)’s conservation facility in Assam were released into the wild on Friday, marking the first such release anywhere in the world.
The birds, along with five captive-bred white-rumped vultures, were transported from the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre at Rani near Guwahati and released at the Jatayu Soft Release Centre in the Biswanath Division of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
BNHS deputy director Sachin Ranade said that captive-bred white-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) had been released earlier. “This is the first such release of the captive-bred slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) in the world,” he said.
He said the 10 scavengers were shifted from the Rani centre three months ago for acclimatisation at a vulture-release aviary in Biswanath’s Tewaripal area. They were released in the presence of Assam’s Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, senior Forest Department officials, and others.
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