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Critically Endangered Vulture Takes Flight Again
10 Aug
Summary
- Young vulture with leg fracture rescued and healed.
- One of only three remaining vultures in Ramanagara.
- Species faces critical endangerment due to diclofenac.
A six-month-old Indian Vulture, critically endangered and one of just three known survivors in the Ramanagara landscape, has been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. The young bird suffered a serious leg injury but was rescued by People for Animals (PfA) Wildlife Hospital in coordination with the Karnataka Forest Department.
Veterinarians discovered a hairline fracture in the vulture's left leg, an injury that could have jeopardized its survival. Following two months of intensive veterinary care, fracture management, and rehabilitation to restore mobility and flight capability, the vulture was deemed fit for release. Its successful recovery is particularly significant given the species' precarious status.
The release occurred last week on a tall hillock in Ramanagara, where the vulture was observed flying normally and feeding near its nesting area. This positive development offers a rare ray of hope for the species, which has faced catastrophic population declines across India, primarily due to the veterinary drug diclofenac, now strictly regulated.
