On September 6, 2024, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Bharivaisi, Campierganj Range of the Gorakhpur Forest Division. This groundbreaking facility marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation as the world’s first dedicated conservation and breeding center for the Asian King Vulture, also known as the red-headed vulture.
JCBC Aims to Breed at Least 40 Vultures in a 15-year Project
The Asian king vulture, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, is localized primarily to northern India and has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2007 due to the widespread use of diclofenac in veterinary medicine in India, which caused a population collapse in recent years. Veterinary usage of diclofenac has been banned in India, and the JCBC aims to raise at least 40 vultures in captivity over 15 years to ensure the sustainable conservation of the species.
Male Vultures May be Captured for Breeding at Jatayu Centre
According to Gorakhpur DFO Vikas Yadav, the center’s infrastructure was built in 2021 as part of the project’s first phase. The second phase is about breeding vultures; the center will initially have ten vultures for breeding. The forest department has partnered with the Bombay Natural History Society for technical guidance. Male vultures are known to be more adept at taking care of the chicks, and once the breeding period is over, a male vulture may be captured from the wild and brought to the JCBC for breeding purposes.
