On September 6, 2024, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Bharivaisi, Campierganj Range of the Gorakhpur Forest Division. This groundbreaking facility marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation as the world’s first dedicated conservation and breeding center for the Asian King Vulture, also known as the red-headed vulture.
While other Jatayu conservation centers exist across India, catering to various vulture species, this new facility in Uttar Pradesh stands out for its exclusive focus on the Asian King Vulture. This specialization underscores the urgent need to protect this critically endangered species and highlights Uttar Pradesh’s commitment to biodiversity conservation.
The center is a result of collaboration between the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the renowned Bombay Natural History Society. Located in Maharajganj, the facility is strategically positioned within the Gorakhpur forest division, an area known for its diverse ecosystem.
Spread over 1.5 hectares of land, the Jatayu Centre was constructed at a cost of Rs 2.8 crore. The facility boasts an array of specialized features designed to support the conservation and breeding of Asian King Vultures:
The center currently houses six king vultures – one male and five females. With an ambitious vision, the Jatayu Center aims to release 40 pairs of vultures into the wild over the next 8 to 10 years, significantly boosting the species’ population.
The Asian King Vulture exhibits monogamous behavior, forming lifelong partnerships. The female typically lays one egg per year, making population recovery a slow and delicate process.
The species faces numerous threats, including:
The center has developed a careful strategy to increase the vulture population:
To combat the threat of diclofenac poisoning, the center has installed a food processing facility. This ensures that the vultures are provided with uncontaminated meat, significantly reducing the risk of poisoning and subsequent mortality.
During the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demonstrated the state’s commitment to environmental education and conservation by instructing the Forest Department to establish a forestry college in Gorakhpur. This initiative aims to foster expertise in forest management and wildlife conservation, complementing the work of the Jatayu Centre.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has accepted the recommendations…
In the realm of luxury timepieces, a select few watches command extraordinary prices that reflect…
The Cabinet Secretary is the highest-ranking civil servant in India, playing a key role in…
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, a German mechanical engineer and physicist, became the first person to win…
A series of pager explosions across Lebanon resulted in the deaths of at least nine…
India and the US have committed to deepening their bilateral cooperation across the energy value…