Historic Release of Captive-Bred Vultures in Assam's Kaziranga National Park

In a groundbreaking conservation effort, Assam's Kaziranga National Park has successfully released ten captive-bred vultures, marking a historic milestone in global wildlife conservation. The initiative, led by State Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, involved the release of Slender-billed and White-rumped Vultures, equipped with satellite transmitters for monitoring. This project not only highlights Assam's commitment to vulture conservation but also aims to restore critically endangered species populations. Additionally, the inauguration of the Florican Eco-Tourism Gate is set to promote sustainable tourism in the region, enhancing biodiversity protection and supporting local communities. Discover more about this significant event and its implications for wildlife conservation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 9, 2026, 13:11 IST

Significant Conservation Effort in Kaziranga

Biswanath Chariali, Aug 9: On Friday, Jayanta Mallabaruah, the State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, visited the Jatayu Aviary located within the Biswanath Wildlife Division of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. During this visit, he oversaw the soft release of ten vultures bred in captivity.

The group of released vultures included five Slender-billed Vultures (gyps tenuirostris) and five White-rumped Vultures (gyps bengalensis). These birds were transported from the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Rani, Assam, to the Jatayu Aviary, where they spent three months acclimatizing according to internationally recognized soft-release protocols before their release into the wild.

Before their release, each vulture was fitted with color identification rings and GSM-GPS satellite transmitters to allow for ongoing monitoring of their movements, survival rates, and adaptation to their natural environment.

This event marks a groundbreaking achievement, as it represents the first instance globally of Slender-billed Vultures being released with GSM-GPS satellite transmitters for tracking purposes.

This initiative positions Assam and the Kaziranga region as leaders in global vulture conservation efforts. Both the Slender-billed Vulture and the White-rumped Vulture are critically endangered, having experienced severe population declines, making conservation breeding and carefully managed reintroduction programs essential for their recovery.

This innovative conservation project is a collaborative effort involving the Assam Forest Department, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). It aims to significantly aid in the restoration of wild vulture populations and bolster ongoing conservation efforts for these vital scavengers in their natural habitats.

Notable attendees at the vulture release included Pallav Lochan Das, MLA of Biswanath; MK Yadava, Special Chief Secretary of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department; Dr. Vinay Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam; Dr. C. Ramesh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve; along with senior officials from the Assam Forest Department and other esteemed guests.

After the vulture release, the Minister inaugurated the Florican Eco-Tourism Gate at Naromari in the Biswanath Wildlife Division and participated in a brief vehicle safari with the dignitaries and Padma Hazarika, MLA of Naduar Legislative Assembly Constituency.

The launch of this new eco-tourism facility is anticipated to enhance sustainable tourism on the North Bank of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. This area is renowned for its rich biodiversity and offers opportunities to observe iconic wildlife such as the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Bengal Florican, Eastern Swamp Deer, and various other species of conservation significance.

The establishment of the Florican Eco-Tourism Gate is also expected to help distribute visitor traffic more evenly across the Kaziranga landscape, thereby alleviating tourism pressure on the South Bank while promoting responsible nature-based tourism and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.