Endangered Himalayan vulture, bred in captivity for the first time in India

Source: The post is based on the article “Endangered Himalayan vulture, bred in captivity for the first time in India”  published in The Hindu on 4th August 2023.

What is the News?

Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati.

What is Captive breeding?

Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals outside of their natural environment in restricted conditions in farms, zoos or other closed facilities. 

The choice of individual animals that are to be part of a captive breeding population, and the mating partners within that population, are controlled by humans.

What is Himalayan vulture?

Himalayan Griffon vulture or Himalayan Vulture inhabits the higher regions of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau.

They can fly at an elevation of up to 5,500 metre with help of their wide and powerful wings.

They generally feed on dead carcasses and would sometimes wait for a few days before eating the dead animal.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

About Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres(VCBC):

Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres(VCBC) have been established by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) at Pinjore in Haryana, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Rani in Assam and Rajabhatkhawa in West Bengal.

These centres are involved in conservation breeding of the white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), and the Indian vulture (Gyps indicus).