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Maharashtra’s Tiger Reserves Boost Captive-Bred Vulture Survival Rates

Maharashtra’s Tiger Reserves Boost Captive-Bred Vulture Survival Rates
Maharashtra’s tiger reserves give captive-bred vultures a fighting chance in the wild · theprint.in

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.

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.”
thehindubusinessline.com theprint.in

Sources

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