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Maharashtra’s Tiger Reserves Boost Captive-Bred Vulture Survival Rates
Scientists are releasing vultures raised in captivity into protected tiger reserves in Maharashtra.
They chose Pench and Melghat because these places have plenty of food and protected areas.
Twenty-nine vultures were released between December 2025 and January 2026.
After several months, many were still alive and living in the wild.
Some birds traveled thousands of kilometres across several states.
One bird flew nearly 4,911 kilometres, while another traveled 4,257 kilometres.
Pench also saw every monitored active vulture nest successfully produce young in 2025.
Conservation workers are teaching people how to dispose of animal carcasses safely.
They are also trying to reduce the use of medicines that can poison vultures.
Twenty-nine captive-bred vultures released in Maharashtra’s Pench and Melghat reserves recorded survival rates of 78% and 60%, respectively.
The Bombay Natural History Society has released about 134 vultures since 2020, after breeding more than 800 birds of three species over 25 years.
Pench’s releases included nine white-rumped and five long-billed vultures, while Melghat received 15 long-billed vultures.
Tracked vultures traveled thousands of kilometres across central India, with birds X67 and X65 covering 4,911 and 4,257 kilometres.
Wild vulture nesting success in East Pench rose from 89% in 2024 to 100% in 2025, while conservation teams are addressing toxic veterinary drugs and unsafe carcass disposal.
- Who
- The Bombay Natural History Society and the Maharashtra Forest Department released captive-bred vultures, with support from other government agencies.
- What
- They reintroduced 29 vultures into Pench and Melghat tiger reserves and recorded survival rates of up to 78%.
- Where
- Pench and Melghat tiger reserves in Maharashtra, with tracked birds later traveling across central India.
- When
- The birds were released in December 2025 and January 2026; the results were reported on September 5, 2026, for International Vulture Day.
- Why
- The programme aims to restore vulture populations by releasing birds into prey-rich, protected habitats and reducing threats such as toxic veterinary drugs.
Key facts
- Vultures released
- 29 birds across Pench and Melghat between December 2025 and January 2026
- Pench survival rate
- 78% after nine months
- Melghat survival rate
- 60% after eight months
- Breeding programme
- More than 800 vultures of three species bred over 25 years
- Total releases since 2020
- About 134 vultures released by the Bombay Natural History Society
- Longest recorded movement
- Female vulture X67 traveled 4,911 kilometres across central India
- East Pench nesting success
- Rose from 89% in 2024 to 100% in 2025
- Threat-reduction programmes
- More than 100 programmes addressed safe carcass disposal and ecological awareness
Quotes
Kishor Rithe
Director of the Bombay Natural History Society
“This shows that the vulture pre-release aviaries established in Melghat and Pench Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra are the most successful ones so far.”
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