26 June,2026 12:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
X67, the captive-bred Indian Vulture. Pic/Bombay Natural History Society
[popcorn number=" 3334 km " desc=" Total Distance Covered " class="Negative"]
[popcorn number="15" desc=" Total no. of vultures released in January " class="Default"]
A captive-bred Indian Vulture, also known as the Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus), released from Maharashtra's Melghat Tiger Reserve earlier this year, has completed an extraordinary 3334-km journey across central India and reached Rajasthan's Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, offering fresh hope for India's vulture conservation efforts.
The five-year-old female vulture, identified as X67, was among 15 vultures released in January 2026 from the Somthana Range of Akot Wildlife Division in Akola district under an ongoing conservation programme aimed at restoring declining vulture populations.
According to Bhaskar Das, senior field biologist at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), X67 spent nearly four months around the release site, scavenging and adapting to life in the wild before beginning its long-distance dispersal.
On May 28, the bird moved out of Melghat Tiger Reserve and embarked on a journey through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Over the next 27 days, X67 travelled 3334 km, making temporary roosting stops at Satpura Tiger Reserve near Pachmarhi, the Bhopal region and Kuno National Park before reaching Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
Researchers are closely tracking the movement, which is being seen as a notable post-release dispersal record for a captive-bred vulture in India.
Kishor Rithe, director of BNHS, said, "The most significant aspect of the journey was that X67 survived entirely in the wild without supplementary feeding after release. The bird's successful adaptation demonstrates that captive-bred vultures can adjust to natural conditions, locate food independently and undertake long-distance movements."
Rithe added that the route suggests vultures may be using tiger reserves and protected area networks as movement corridors, where wild carrion remains available due to healthy carnivore populations.
All 15 released vultures were fitted with blue-coloured leg rings carrying identification numbers and solar-powered tracking tags. The tags help scientists monitor movement, survival and safety after release.
BNHS field biologists Bhaskar Das and Sooryajith are tracking the birds under the guidance of Deputy Conservator of Forests Rahul Tolia. The journey is being viewed as an important milestone in India's efforts to revive its threatened vulture populations.
Total Distance Covered: 3334 km
