Critically Endangered Indian Vulture Rescued, Rehabilitated, Released in Karnataka

A six-month-old Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) has been successfully rescued, treated and released back into the wild at the Sri Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary in Ramanagara, Karnataka. The operation was carried out by the People for Animals (PfA) Wildlife Hospital in coordination with the Forest Department.

The Indian Vulture is classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Once widespread across the Indian subcontinent, the species suffered a catastrophic decline in the 1990s and 2000s, primarily due to the veterinary drug diclofenac, which proved fatal to vultures that fed on treated livestock carcasses. Conservation efforts have since focused on banning the drug, captive breeding and rescuing individual birds in distress.

The young vulture was rescued on June 10 after the Forest Department alerted PfA’s Quick Reaction Rescue Team (QRRT) that the bird was unable to move. The team transported it to the PfA Wildlife Hospital, where it underwent a detailed clinical examination and digital radiography.

According to PfA, the X-ray revealed a hairline fracture involving the femoral head of the left leg. Given the bird’s young age and the risk of improper healing — which could lead to limb shortening and impaired mobility — veterinarians opted for a conventional fracture-management approach followed by a carefully supervised rehabilitation programme.

Over the next two months, the vulture received veterinary care, physiotherapy and progressive assessments to ensure it regained adequate mobility, strength and flight capability. Before release, the bird passed a flight assessment and was declared clinically and behaviourally fit to return to the wild.

The vulture was released on August 6 at the sanctuary. PfA’s veterinary and field teams monitored the bird for three days following release. During this period, the vulture was observed flying strongly, moving normally and feeding successfully, indicating a positive return to its natural environment.

Colonel Dr. Navaz Shariff, chief wildlife veterinarian at PfA Wildlife Hospital, said the Indian Vulture faces an extremely fragile future, especially in areas where only a few individuals remain. “When a population is reduced to just a handful of birds, the survival of every individual becomes critical to the species’ future. In such cases, timely rescue, accurate diagnosis, appropriate veterinary intervention and proper rehabilitation can make the difference between losing an individual and giving it a second chance in the wild,” he said.

Dr. Shariff added that the successful release of this young vulture is not merely the rescue of a single bird. “It represents an important contribution to the conservation of a critically endangered species and reinforces the need to protect the remaining habitat and breeding populations of vultures in Karnataka,” he said.

The Sri Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary is one of the few protected areas in southern India specifically designated for vulture conservation. It provides a safe habitat for scavenging birds, which play a vital ecological role by cleaning carcasses and preventing the spread of disease. The successful rehabilitation and release of this vulture highlights the importance of collaborative wildlife rescue efforts and the continued need for conservation vigilance in the region.