In a groundbreaking move, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has sanctioned the transfer of 35 critically-endangered vultures from the vulture conservation and breeding centre in Guwahati to Kaziranga National Park, administered by the Bishwanath Wildlife Division. The transfer includes 30 White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) and five Slender-billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris), both listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Assam is a key habitat for these vultures, yet their populations are threatened by factors like pesticide poisoning. The Kaziranga National Park has been chosen for the release due to its suitable environment, including vast forests and food sources, complemented by ongoing anti-poaching efforts and veterinary practices that support vulture health. A release aviary has been established by the Kaziranga Park Authority, following guidelines from the Bombay Natural History Society, to facilitate a soft release of the vultures in the near future.
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, praised this initiative as a significant advancement in wildlife conservation, highlighting the crucial role of vultures in maintaining ecological balance. The vulture population in India has suffered dramatic declines, with numbers for white-rumped vultures plummeting from approximately 11,000 in 2007 to current estimates of only 750–1,000 for the slender-billed species, indicating a pressing need for such conservation efforts.