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Nandankanan Zoo Seeks Vultures to Boost Critically Endangered Breeding
12 Oct
Summary
- Zoo plans to bring 10 pairs of vultures for breeding program.
- Nandankanan's current breeding center has five pairs of long-billed vultures.
- Vulture extinction in Odisha necessitates captive breeding efforts.
Nandankanan Zoological Park is actively pursuing a significant expansion of its vulture conservation breeding program. The zoo intends to bring at least 10 pairs of vultures from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana, to enhance its existing efforts. This move is critical as Nandankanan's Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre currently holds only five pairs of long-billed vultures.
Approval for this transfer is pending from the Central Zoo Authority. Nandankanan's breeding program for long-billed vultures commenced in 2018, following a directive from the CZA to receive 12 vultures from Gandhi Zoological Park. The zoo was designated as a vulture conservation facility in 2013.
The complete absence of vultures in Odisha's wild underscores the urgency of this captive breeding initiative. Acknowledging this grim reality, the zoo established its dedicated breeding center in 2012. Efforts are underway to foster future population recovery for these critically endangered birds.
