Guwahati – The Assam State Zoo has marked a significant conservation milestone by successfully breeding a pair of Himalayan vultures in captivity, a first for India. This breakthrough was documented by researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
“This is the second instance globally and the first in India where Himalayan vultures have been bred successfully in captivity. Except for France, this species has not been bred in captivity anywhere else,” said Sachin Ranade, a scientist at BNHS.
The Himalayan vultures, rescued from various parts of Assam and relocated to an aviary in the Assam State Zoo for treatment in 2011-12, eventually mated. The pair eschewed the provided nest ledge, opting instead to construct a secluded ground nest using pine twigs. After several unsuccessful attempts, the pair finally achieved successful hatching on March 14, 2022. The hatchling was promptly transferred to an artificial brooding facility for specialized care.
The young vulture was fed goat meat and rib pieces to ensure optimal health. “During the first month, the nestling was kept in a brooder made up of a plastic box with a map for grip. The temperature was maintained around 30-35°C with a lamp, and it was monitored with a thermo-hygrometer. The nestling was provided with sufficient space to move towards and away from the heat source,” Ranade explained.
The research on this successful breeding was recently published in a paper titled ‘Breeding of Himalayan Vulture Gyps’ in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
The Himalayan vulture, or Himalayan Griffon Vulture, is a common winter migrant to the Indian plains and a resident of the higher Himalayas. It is categorized as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species.
Ranade noted that breeding the species in Guwahati was a daunting task due to the intense heat, as the species naturally breeds in snow-clad mountains. “But as these birds were kept in the zoo for a long time, they acclimatised to the tropical environment,” he said. “Despite the intense heat, these Himalayan vultures could breed in Assam. That is a success story.”
This achievement by the Assam State Zoo marks a significant step forward in the conservation of the Himalayan vulture, offering hope for the future of this near-threatened species.
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