Vulture Breeding Facilities in India

Vulture Breeding Facilities in India form a critical part of the country’s strategy to restore endangered vulture populations that suffered catastrophic declines due to poisoning from veterinary drugs. These centres, established under the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme, serve as specialised institutions for the captive breeding, rehabilitation, and reintroduction of critically endangered vulture species. Through scientific management and conservation partnerships, India has developed one of the most successful vulture recovery programmes in the world.

Background: The Vulture Decline

During the 1990s and early 2000s, India witnessed a dramatic collapse in vulture numbers, with populations of the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus), and Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) declining by over 95%. The primary cause was identified as diclofenac, a veterinary anti-inflammatory drug administered to livestock. When vultures fed on carcasses of animals treated with diclofenac, they suffered fatal kidney failure.
This ecological crisis prompted the Government of India, in collaboration with international partners and conservation organisations, to establish dedicated breeding facilities aimed at ensuring the species’ survival and eventual reintroduction into the wild.

Establishment of the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme

The Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme was initiated in 2004 by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), UK. The goal was to create a network of Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres (VCBCs) across India to breed vultures in captivity, protect existing wild populations, and prepare reintroduction strategies in drug-free zones.
The programme follows a three-tiered approach:

1. Captive breeding of threatened species in secure and controlled environments.
2. Monitoring of wild populations and elimination of toxic veterinary drugs.
3. Reintroduction of captive-bred vultures into Vulture Safe Zones for repopulation.

Major Vulture Breeding Centres in India

India currently operates eight major vulture breeding facilities, strategically located across the country’s different regions to ensure geographical diversity and species representation.
1. Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (Pinjore, Haryana)

• Established in 2001, this was India’s first and largest vulture breeding facility.
• Managed jointly by BNHS, Haryana Forest Department, and RSPB.
• Houses White-rumped, Long-billed, and Slender-billed Vultures.
• Achieved the country’s first successful captive breeding of vultures in 2007.
• Also serves as a research and training hub for other breeding centres.

2. Rani Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (Assam)

• Located near Guwahati, this centre focuses on eastern populations.
• Plays a key role in reintroducing vultures into the northeastern region’s Vulture Safe Zones.
• Houses primarily Slender-billed and White-rumped Vultures.

3. Rajabhatkhawa Vulture Breeding Centre (West Bengal)

• Situated near the Buxa Tiger Reserve in the Dooars region.
• Managed by the West Bengal Forest Department in collaboration with BNHS.
• Focuses on breeding and public awareness through eco-tourism initiatives.

4. Kerwa Vulture Breeding Centre (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh)

• Established to cover central Indian populations.
• Focuses on Long-billed Vultures, with successful breeding outcomes since 2013.

5. Nandankanan Zoological Park (Odisha)

• Operates a specialised vulture enclosure for conservation and public education.
• Participates in ex-situ conservation and research on breeding biology.

6. Junagadh Vulture Breeding Centre (Gujarat)

• Located near Gir National Park, managed by the Gujarat Forest Department.
• Focuses on restoring vulture populations in western India.

7. Gadchiroli Vulture Centre (Maharashtra)

• Established to address declines in Deccan Plateau regions.
• Works with community outreach to promote vulture-safe livestock practices.

8. Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden (Gujarat)

• Functions both as a breeding and awareness centre.
• Houses several individuals of White-rumped and Long-billed Vultures.

These centres collectively form the backbone of India’s National Vulture Conservation Breeding Network, working under common protocols established by BNHS and MoEFCC.

Breeding and Management Practices

Each breeding centre operates under stringent scientific protocols designed to replicate natural conditions while ensuring safety and genetic diversity.
Key components include:

• Pairing and nesting management: Vultures are paired based on species, behaviour, and genetic compatibility.
• Controlled feeding regimes: Carcasses provided are free from toxic drugs, primarily sourced from Vulture Safe Zones.
• Chick rearing and monitoring: Eggs are incubated both naturally and artificially, with chicks hand-fed under controlled conditions if necessary.
• Health checks and disease control: Regular veterinary monitoring ensures hygiene and biosecurity.
• Record-keeping and DNA profiling: Genetic diversity is maintained through careful documentation of lineage.

The centres have achieved consistent breeding success in recent years, producing dozens of fledglings that are now part of reintroduction efforts.

Reintroduction and Release Programmes

Reintroduction of captive-bred vultures began after the establishment of drug-free Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs). Before release, birds undergo a rigorous acclimatisation process in pre-release aviaries to adapt to natural conditions.
Key milestones include:

• The first release of captive-bred vultures from the Pinjore centre in 2016, marking a major conservation success.
• Continued releases in Assam, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal, with tracking using satellite transmitters to monitor survival and behaviour.
• The creation of soft-release enclosures, allowing gradual adaptation to wild conditions.

These reintroduction efforts are integrated with VSZ monitoring programmes to ensure survival in safe environments free from diclofenac contamination.

Achievements of the Breeding Programme

The Vulture Breeding Facilities have contributed significantly to halting the decline of India’s vulture populations:

• Over 700 vultures have been successfully bred across centres.
• Survival and breeding rates of released individuals show positive trends.
• The ban on veterinary diclofenac in 2006, reinforced by breeding success, has improved wild population recovery.
• The programme has enhanced scientific understanding of vulture biology, nutrition, and breeding behaviour.

In addition, the centres have become regional hubs for awareness, education, and capacity building, training forest officials, veterinarians, and researchers in species management and monitoring.

Challenges in Vulture Breeding and Conservation

Despite success, the programme faces several challenges:

• Illegal drug availability: Diclofenac and other toxic NSAIDs such as ketoprofen and aceclofenac remain in circulation.
• Slow reproduction: Vultures breed once a year, making population recovery gradual.
• Limited genetic diversity: Captive populations risk inbreeding without periodic genetic management.
• Habitat threats: Urbanisation, powerline collisions, and food scarcity continue to affect wild populations.

Continuous monitoring, stricter drug enforcement, and expansion of Vulture Safe Zones are vital to sustain the progress achieved so far.

Future Directions and Conservation Outlook

India’s vulture breeding network continues to evolve as a model for global conservation. Future strategies include:

• Expansion of breeding capacity to include more species such as the Red-headed (Sarcogyps calvus) and Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus).
• Integration of captive and wild population management, ensuring genetic exchange and adaptability.
• Enhanced international cooperation with neighbouring countries through the SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction) partnership.
• Use of advanced technology, including satellite tracking, genetic research, and artificial incubation systems.