After being recaptured twice following failed release attempts, rehabilitated Indian Vulture ‘J132’ has finally adapted to life in the wild. The bird has survived 56 continuous days, travelled more than 1618 km, and joined wild vultures to independently locate and feed on cattle carcasses in Nashik. The remarkable journey, recorded by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) researchers, marks a major success for Maharashtra’s vulture conservation breeding and release programme and offers hope that the bird has successfully adapted to life in the wild.

Third chance

J132 was released for the third time in Nashik on June 7. Since then, it has explored the vulture-rich landscapes of northern Nashik and frequently travelled along the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, including Valsad district.