19 March,2026 07:52 PM IST | Guawahati | Ranjeet Jadhav
White-rumped vultures releases in Guwahati. (Pic/BNHS)
In a significant breakthrough for wildlife conservation in India, five captive-bred White-rumped vultures were released into the wild in Assam on Thursday. The release of these birds marks a historic first for the state and the Northeast region.
As per the official statement, the release was carried out by M K Yadav, Special Secretary, Forests and Environment, Assam, in the presence of key conservationists and officials, including Vinay Gupta, Chris Bowden, Kishor Rithe, and Sachin Ranade.
The carefully coordinated release of the White-rumped Vulture took place at Nalapara under the Rani Range in Kamrup East Division.
As per the official statement, the officials used a pulley system to remotely open the aviary gate from a hide located about 100 metres away, ensuring minimal disturbance to the birds. Cameras installed at the site captured the vultures' movements post-release.
This marks the first-ever release of captive-bred vultures from the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) at Rani, which was established in 2007. The centre currently houses 194 vultures, including 138 White-rumped vultures and 54 Slender-billed vultures, and has now reached a stage where 20-25 birds can be released annually.
The released vultures, aged between three and four years, include both captive-bred individuals and rescued birds that were rehabilitated and deemed fit for release.
Prior to their release, they underwent acclimatisation in a pre-release aviary, where they interacted with free-ranging vultures attracted to the site through supplementary feeding.
Officials expect them to gradually expand their range over the coming months, potentially reaching neighbouring states such as West Bengal and Meghalaya and even crossing into Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Conservationists said the next six months will be critical in assessing both the survival of the birds and the safety of the surrounding environment.
The breeding centre will continue to provide food near the aviary to support the vultures as they adapt to the wild.
The initiative has received sustained support from organisations including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Centre for Wildlife Studies, Oriental Bird Club, Darwin Initiative, Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation, and Vet Work. Financial assistance for 2025-26 was also provided by Adani Group through Adani LGBI.
Officials further acknowledged the support of local communities, particularly residents of Belguri village, for their cooperation in the long-standing conservation effort.
The successful release represents a crucial step in reviving vulture populations in India, which have faced severe declines over the past decades due to habitat loss and poisoning.
