Assam Achieves Global Milestone with First Release of Captive-Bred Slender-Billed Vultures
Conservationists successfully released five slender-billed vultures into the wild alongside five white-rumped vultures at Kaziranga National Park. This event marks the world's first instance of returning captive-bred specimens of the critically endangered Gyps tenuirostris to their natural habitat.
Key takeaways
- Five slender-billed and five white-rumped vultures were released at Kaziranga National Park on August 7, 2026.
- This represents the first successful wild release of captive-bred slender-billed vultures globally.
- India's Gyps vulture population plummeted by 99% over 20 years, primarily due to toxic veterinary drugs.
- Since 2018, over 700 vultures in Assam have died from accidental pesticide poisoning in animal carcasses.
Breakthrough in Avian Conservation
For the first time globally, captive-bred slender-billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) have been introduced into the wild. The release took place on August 7, 2026, within the Biswanath Division of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. This cohort included five slender-billed vultures and five white-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis), all of which were reared at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre located in Rani, near Guwahati.
Sachin Ranade, deputy director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), confirmed that while white-rumped vultures have been released previously, this specific reintroduction of the slender-billed species is an unprecedented achievement. The ten scavengers underwent a three-month acclimatization period at the Jatayu Soft Release Centre in Tewaripal before their official release in the presence of Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah.
Why It Matters
India's Gyps vulture population has suffered a catastrophic 99% collapse over the last two decades. This decline is largely attributed to the use of specific veterinary painkillers in livestock. While the government has prohibited four dangerous drugs—diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen, and nimesulide—secondary poisoning remains a significant hurdle for species recovery in Assam.
Key Facts
- The project is a collaborative effort between the BNHS and the Assam Forest Department, active since 2007.
- Each released bird is fitted with a numbered blue leg ring and a back tag for identification and monitoring.
- Since 2018, Assam has recorded over 700 vulture deaths, including Himalayan griffons, caused by accidental secondary poisoning.
- Illegal use of toxic pesticides on carcasses to target stray dogs frequently leads to mass vulture fatalities.
- Acclimatization for these birds occurred over 90 days in a specialized release aviary in Biswanath.
Monitoring and Future Outlook
Scientists expect these ten birds to integrate with local wild populations remaining in the region. To protect the newly released scavengers, wildlife officials continue to conduct awareness programs. These initiatives aim to stop the use of prohibited medicines on livestock and prevent the poisoning of carcasses. Officials emphasize that allowing vultures to consume dead animals naturally is the safest method for carcass management.
Source: The Hindu — Sci-Tech
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