Melghat and Pench Tiger Reserves in Maharashtra have emerged as highly successful sites for the reintroduction of captive-bred vultures, according to the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). The results show that releasing vultures in prey-rich, inviolate tiger habitats can significantly improve survival.
Key Findings
- 29 captive-bred vultures were released across two reserves between December 2025 and January 2026.
- Pench Tiger Reserve: 9 White-rumped + 5 Long-billed vultures released in December 2025; 78% survival over nine months.
- Melghat Tiger Reserve: 15 Long-billed vultures released in January 2026; 60% survival over eight months.
- The improved survival compared with earlier releases supports the strategy of shifting release aviaries/enclosures to protected tiger reserves with abundant prey and minimal human disturbance.
- The strategy became particularly relevant as tiger populations increased following village resettlement in these landscapes.
India’s Vulture Breeding & Reintroduction Programme
India’s vulture breeding programme completed 25 years and has bred more than 800 vultures of three species.
BNHS began releasing captive-bred vultures in 2020 and has released around 134 birds so far, working with the governments of Haryana, West Bengal, Assam and Maharashtra, with permissions from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
The vultures released in Maharashtra were bred at the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore, Haryana, before being transported for reintroduction.
Tracking Vulture Movement
The released birds are also providing valuable information about natural adaptation and wildlife corridors.
- X67: A female Long-billed Vulture released in Melghat travelled 4,911 km after rehabilitation in Akola. It moved through Kuno, Sheopur and Ranthambhore, before returning to the Kuno–Sheopur landscape in Madhya Pradesh. Its movements indicate an important northern corridor connecting the Satpura landscape with Kuno and Ranthambhore.
- X65: Another female Long-billed Vulture from Melghat travelled 4,257 km. After rehabilitation in Nashik, it was recorded across Surat, Jalgaon, Burhanpur, Amravati, Nagpur, Chhindwara and Kanha Tiger Reserve, and is currently in Katni and Shahdol.
These movements provide direct evidence that reintroduced vultures can adapt naturally and travel across large connected landscapes.
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is one of India’s oldest and major organisations working on wildlife research, biodiversity conservation and nature awareness.
| Fact | Details |
| Founded | 15 September 1883 |
| Founders | 8 nature enthusiasts |
| Headquarters | Hornbill House, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Nature | Independent, membership-driven scientific organisation |
| International association | Works with organisations such as BirdLife International |
Important Contributions
- National Heritage Collection: Hornbill House preserves more than 1,50,000 biological specimens, including over 29,000 bird skins and 18,500 mammal specimens, along with insects, reptiles and eggs.
- National repository: MoEFCC has designated BNHS as a national repository for marine, freshwater and terrestrial fauna.
- Dr Sálim Ali: The renowned ornithologist and “Birdman of India” was a major figure associated with BNHS.
Major Publications
- Journal of the BNHS (JBNHS): Published since 1886 and recognised as an important peer-reviewed natural-history journal in Asia.
- Hornbill Magazine: A quarterly popular magazine that spreads information about nature and conservation among the public.