In an unfortunate incident, a GPS-tagged vulture, which had embarked on an extraordinary 4,000-kilometre journey from the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, tragically died of electrocution near Thirumayam Range in Tamil Nadu's Pudukottai Division. The white-rumped vulture, tagged as N11, was part of India’s ambitious Jatayu Conservation Project, an initiative aimed at reviving critically endangered vulture populations.

The vulture’s journey began in August when it was satellite-tagged at Tadoba to monitor its movements. The bird’s remarkable route took it through Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and ultimately Tamil Nadu. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Director, Kishor Rithe, explained to Mid-Day, “Sub-adult birds are very inquisitive and curious, often exploring more. This vulture’s extensive travels are not uncommon, as young birds take time to learn where to stop for feeding during long flights.”