Campierganj — At the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Center in Bhariwasi, Campierganj, a focused effort is underway to increase the population of White-backed Vultures (Rajgiddh), a species that has seen a significant decline in numbers in recent years. Initially home to six vultures, the center’s population has now risen to eight, marking a positive step in the conservation of this endangered species.
According to DFO Vikas Yadav, the center plans to further increase the number of vultures in the coming years. The latest additions to the center’s flock include vultures rescued from Chitrakoot and Lalitpur. A young vulture, less than a year old, was rescued from Lalitpur in October 2024, while another vulture, approximately two years old and female, was brought in after Diwali from Chitrakoot.
The center is currently focused on locating additional vultures, particularly male ones, as they are essential for the breeding process. Although the center now has a sufficient number of female vultures, there is still a pressing need for male vultures to pair with them. The teams are actively searching the forests of Chitrakoot and Lalitpur to capture male vultures and complete the conservation breeding cycle.
The rescue efforts, led by the forest department, also involve DNA testing to identify the sex of the newly rescued vultures. The vulture from Lalitpur will undergo DNA testing to determine its sex, while the female vulture from Chitrakoot is now part of the breeding program. Once the breeding pairs are complete, the team hopes to achieve a self-sustaining population at the center.
The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Center is India’s first dedicated facility to protect and breed White-backed Vultures, which are facing significant threats to their survival, including habitat loss, poisoning, and dwindling food sources. With the continued efforts of the forest department and the center’s dedicated team, there is hope for the revival of this critically endangered species.
DFO Vikas Yadav emphasized the importance of increasing the number of vultures at the center, stating, “Our goal is to stabilize the population of Rajgiddh and ensure they have a secure future. We will continue our search for male vultures to complete the breeding pairs and enhance the reproductive capacity of our center.”
