Himalayan Griffon Vulture rescued in Chhattisgarh completes 1,165 km journey to Nepal

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has achieved a notable milestone in wildlife conservation with the successful rehabilitation of a Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Jatayu, rescued from Bilaspur.
After treatment at Nandanvan Zoo and radio-telemetry tagging, the vulture was released on April 11, 2025, and has since completed a 1,165 km journey through Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar to reach Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary.
The continuous monitoring effort, supported by the Wildlife Institute of India, has provided valuable ecological insights. Two other vultures—a White-rumped Vulture and an Egyptian Vulture—have also been successfully rescued and released, underscoring the Chhattisgarh Forest Department's commitment to avian conservation.
Jatayu's journey included crossing major rivers like the Ganga and Koshi and traversing diverse terrains, indicating that the bird is in good health and exhibiting natural behaviour.
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, is supporting the operation by using radio telemetry technology to track the vulture’s movements. This technology has provided valuable insights into Jatayu's migration path, roosting sites, and ecological behaviour.
The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has also successfully rescued, treated, and rehabilitated two other vultures. A White-rumped vulture, rescued from the Bhanupratappur region, was tagged by BNHS Mumbai and released from Nandanvan Jungle Safari after initial treatment. It initially flew towards the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and is currently active near Bartara village in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, an Egyptian Vulture, rescued from the Raipur-Bilaspur highway, was treated and released and is now regularly sighted around the Abhanpur area in Nava Raipur.
Dhammsheel Ganveer, Director of Nandanvan Jungle Safari, commented on the achievement, stating, “This is a major accomplishment for our state of Chhattisgarh. It will further aid in the monitoring and conservation of both native and migratory bird species.”
He further added, “The journey of Jatayu and the other vultures is the result of scientific and dedicated efforts in wildlife conservation. Such initiatives will provide a new direction to biodiversity conservation in the future.”