Source: TH
Subject: Species in News
Context: BNHS will release six critically endangered vultures—slender-billed and white-rumped—into the wild in Assam in January 2026 as part of India’s long-term vulture recovery programme.
About BNHS to Release Critically Endangered Vultures:
About Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)
- What it is?
- A critically endangered Old World vulture species native to South Asia, once widespread but now reduced to fragmented pockets.
- Habitat: Found in the Gangetic plains, Assam, northern Bangladesh, southern Nepal, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
- Nests on tall trees in open areas near human settlements, slaughterhouses, and riverine landscapes.
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (since 2002) with fewer than ~870 mature individuals
- Key Characteristics:
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- Length 80–95 cm, wingspan 196–258 cm.
- Darker head with a distinctively slender, narrow bill, long bare neck.
- Grey plumage with pale rump; juveniles have white neck down.
- No sexual dimorphism; solitary nesters; slow breeders (1 egg per clutch).
- Feeds mainly on carrion, often alongside other vulture species.
About White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
- What it is?
- A medium-sized Asian vulture once commonly found across India; among the fastest-declining bird species in the world.
- Habitat: Occurs in cities, villages, plains, and open fields, nesting mainly on large trees or cliffs; often roosts near human habitation.
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered due to catastrophic declines caused primarily by diclofenac poisoning in livestock carcasses.
- Key Characteristics:
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- Length 75–85 cm, wingspan 180–210 cm, weight 3.5–7.5 kg.
- Dark plumage, white neck ruff, and distinct white patch on rump.
- Highly visible white underwing coverts during flight.
- Sexes similar; breeds from October to March, laying one thick-shelled egg.
- Scavenges on carcasses, often feeding in mixed-species groups.
