Conserving Vultures: Pench Tiger Reserve's Unique Initiative

The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has launched 'Jatayu Gram Mitra', a conservation initiative for critically endangered vultures. Carcasses of animals will be dumped at specific sites to provide food for vultures. The project involves collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society and will run until next year's Vulture Conservation Day.

The Pench Tiger Reserve in Nagpur, Maharashtra, has launched an ambitious initiative to conserve critically endangered vultures. Under the 'Jatayu Gram Mitra' programme, villagers will dump animal carcasses at designated spots to ensure a steady food supply for these essential scavengers.

In collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), ten long-billed vultures were brought from the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana, and placed in a pre-release aviary in East Pench. The birds have been interacting with wild vultures since January and are set for release into their natural habitat on August 10.

The 'Jatayu Gram Mitra Programme' will support vulture conservation until September 6 next year. It aims to revive traditional carcass dumping sites, offering financial support to livestock owners for transportation costs. Only animals that have died naturally and without medical treatment will be accepted.