World's First Asian King Vulture Conservation Center in UP

Uttar Pradesh is set to make history with the world's first conservation and breeding centre for Asian king vultures, also known as red-headed vultures, in Maharajganj. This groundbreaking facility, named the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre, aims to boost the population of this critically endangered species.

The Asian king vulture has been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list since 2007. In India, it's protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The species, once widespread across the country, has seen a drastic decline in numbers due to habitat loss and diclofenac poisoning.

SK Sharma, the principal chief conservator of forest and head of Uttar Pradesh's forest force, announced that the centre is ready for formal inauguration. This initiative marks a significant step in global vulture conservation efforts, as it's the first facility specifically dedicated to breeding and conserving the Asian king vulture.

Facility Features and Conservation Strategies

The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre boasts state-of-the-art facilities for vulture care and breeding:

• 24/7 monitoring of the vultures
• A team including a scientific officer and a biologist
• A 20-foot by 30-foot aviary
• Strict CCTV surveillance
• Limited access, with only the keeper allowed into the enclosure

Dr. Durgesh Nandan, the centre's scientific officer, explained that they currently house a pair of male and female vultures, with plans to introduce more. The centre aims to replicate the vultures' natural environment, ensuring a smooth transition when they're eventually released into the wild.

The vultures are fed twice a week, with each bird consuming about three kilograms of meat per feeding. This carefully managed diet is crucial for maintaining the health of the growing vultures.

Breeding Challenges and Future Plans

Asian king vultures present unique breeding challenges:

• They mate for life, choosing only one partner
• They lay only one egg per year

These factors make the centre's monitoring and conservation efforts critical. The goal is to ensure the good health of growing vultures, provide them with suitable mates, and eventually release breeding pairs into their natural habitat once eggs are laid.

The centre plans to expand its vulture population gradually. Currently housing two males, they aim to introduce female vultures to create more breeding pairs. This methodical approach is essential given the species' slow reproduction rate and the need for careful matchmaking.

While other vulture conservation centres in India focus on long-billed and white-backed vultures, this facility's dedication to the Asian king vulture makes it unique. The success of this project could provide valuable insights for vulture conservation efforts worldwide.

By replicating the vultures' natural environment within the centre, the team hopes to prepare the birds for eventual release into the wild. This careful approach aims to ensure that when the vultures are reintroduced to forests, they will be well-equipped to thrive in their natural habitat.

As Uttar Pradesh takes this pioneering step in vulture conservation, the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre stands as a beacon of hope for the critically endangered Asian king vulture, potentially paving the way for similar initiatives globally.