The Aryavarth Express
Kaziranga (Assam): The Central Zoo Authority (CZA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has approved the transfer of 30 White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) and five Slender-billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) from the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Rani, Guwahati to the 6th Addition of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (NP&TR) under the Bishwanath Wildlife Division.
Announcing the development on social media, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote:
“Glad to announce the release of 30 White-rumped & 5 Slender-billed Vultures from VCBC, Rani into Kaziranga’s 6th Addition. Like Jatayu soaring in the Ramayana, these guardians of our health return to the wild, marking a triumph of our dedicated conservation efforts.”
Both the White-rumped and Slender-billed vultures are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Assam as a Stronghold for Endangered Vultures
Kaziranga Field Director Sonali Ghosh noted that Assam remains one of the last strongholds for slender-billed vultures, with breeding populations concentrated around Kaziranga. However, both species continue to face threats such as pesticide-poisoned cattle carcasses, leading to declining numbers despite conservation efforts. VCBC-Rani currently houses a substantial captive population of both species.
Ghosh highlighted the drastic collapse of India’s vulture population in the late 20th century, when numbers plummeted by over 97% between the mid-1990s and early 2000s.
By 2007, White-rumped vultures had fallen to roughly 11,000, while Slender-billed vultures were at just 1,000—the fastest decline ever documented in any bird species. Recent estimates (2023–2025) indicate populations remain low, with Slender-billed vultures numbering 750–1,000.
Diclofenac: The Primary Killer
Ghosh attributed the crash largely to the veterinary drug diclofenac, which caused kidney failure and visceral gout in vultures feeding on treated carcasses. Even contamination in 0.8–1% of carcasses was enough to generate widescale population collapse.
The ecological fallout included a spike in feral dog populations, increased rabies transmission, and an estimated 500,000 human deaths between 2000 and 2005 due to poorly scavenged carcasses. While India banned veterinary diclofenac in 2006, populations have yet to fully recover.
Why Kaziranga’s 6th Addition Was Chosen
The release site offers expansive forests, abundant carrion from large herbivores, strong anti-poaching measures, and vulture-safe veterinary practices. A release aviary—built with technical support from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)—has been constructed near the Tewaripal forest camp. The vultures will undergo a scientific soft-release protocol over the next few months.
Awareness programs on the ecological importance of vultures and the dangers of NSAIDs (diclofenac, aceclofenac, nimesulide) and pesticides are also being conducted across local communities, schools, and veterinary networks.
Major Step in India’s Vulture Recovery Effort
Ghosh emphasized that the transfer marks a major milestone in reintroducing Critically Endangered vultures into the wild. VCBC-Rani, run jointly by the Assam Forest Department and BNHS, has been central to conserving Gyps vultures in South Asia.
BNHS also plans to release six more captive-bred Slender-billed and White-rumped vultures in January 2026 in Assam’s Kamrup and Biswanath districts. With over 800 vultures bred nationwide over 15 years, these initiatives—backed by the RSPB and state forest authorities—aim to rebuild vulture flocks, counter ongoing poisoning threats, and reduce instances of deliberate baiting.
This release underscores Assam’s continued commitment to restoring vulture populations and strengthening long-term conservation and reintroduction efforts across the Northeast.
