The Central Zoo Authority (CZA), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has approved the transfer of 30 White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) and five Slender-billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) from the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Rani, Guwahati, to the 6th Addition of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve in the Bishwanath Wildlife Division.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on social media that the release of these vultures from VCBC, Rani into Kaziranga’s new addition marks a major conservation achievement, comparing their return to the heroic flight of Jatayu in the Ramayana. Both species—the white-rumped and slender-billed vultures—are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, offering them the highest level of protection.

Kaziranga Field Director Sonali Ghosh noted that Assam is the main stronghold for slender-billed vultures, especially around Kaziranga, though their numbers are decreasing due to threats like poisoning from pesticide-treated cattle carcasses. White-rumped vultures are more widespread in the state but face similar declines, prompting conservation efforts at centres like the VCBC in Rani, which houses a substantial captive population.

Vultures hold cultural and ecological significance in India. They have long symbolised balance and purity in many rural communities and are celebrated in Hindu mythology through figures like Jatayu and Sampati. India’s vulture populations, once in the tens of millions, underwent a catastrophic collapse—declining by over 97% between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. By 2007, white-rumped vultures dropped to around 11,000, while slender-billed numbers fell to nearly 1,000. Current estimates (2023–2025) still show very low populations, with only about 750–1,000 slender-billed vultures.

The anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, used in livestock, was identified as the main cause of this crash. Vultures feeding on treated carcasses suffered kidney failure and visceral gout, and even minimal contamination was enough to trigger mass mortality across India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The decline led to ecological consequences such as exploding feral dog populations and increased rabies cases, contributing to over 500,000 human deaths between 2000 and 2005. Although diclofenac has been banned for veterinary use since 2006, vulture numbers remain critically low.

The 6th Addition of Kaziranga was chosen as the release site because of its dense forests, natural food availability from large herbivore carcasses, and strong anti-poaching and vulture-friendly veterinary practices. A release aviary has been set up near the Tewaripal forest camp, where the birds will undergo a soft release following scientific protocols. Awareness campaigns on vulture importance and threats have also been conducted among local communities and veterinarians.

This transfer is a major milestone in rewilding efforts for white-rumped and slender-billed vultures. The VCBC-Rani, managed by the Assam Forest Department and BNHS, has been crucial in conserving South Asia’s rapidly declining Gyps vultures. BNHS plans to release additional captive-bred vultures—starting with six in January 2026—in Kamrup and Biswanath districts. Supported by the Assam Forest Department and the RSPB, these efforts aim to rebuild vulture populations, prevent poisoning, and involve local communities. This initiative strengthens Assam’s long-term commitment to restoring vulture numbers and ensuring the success of future conservation and reintroduction programs across Northeast India.