Jatayu Conservation: World’s First Asian King Vulture Center Opens in Uttar Pradesh

Introduction

• Important measure towards the preservation of species was made with the opening of the first ever Conservation and breeding center in Asian King Vulture in Uttar Pradesh in India.
• The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre was flagged off by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pardesh Yogi Adityanath at Bharivaisi which falls in the Campierganj Range of the Gorakhpur Forest Division.
• This pioneering effort is the first of its kind in the world of wild animal preservation and aims on the Asian King Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) or the red-headed vulture.
• The opening of the Jatayu Centre also brings out the necessity to save this critically endangered species as well as the increasing conception of the importance of the protection of the biodi-versity in India.
• This blog post explores the importance of this endeavor further, the special characteristics of Asian King Vulture, and lastly discusses the prospects of conservation in the Asian subcontinent.

The Importance of the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre

• There are many ways that people might not know vultures do so much to help keep a balance in the food chain.
• They feed on dead animal carcasses thus they drain off dead animals hence helping in eradicating the spread of diseases.
• Nonetheless, the population of vultures of this part of the world especially across the Indian sub-continent has reduced considerably in the past few decades because of the use of the veterinary drug diclofenac sodium which is an anti-inflammatory drug.
• Those vultures that forage on carcasses spiked with diclofenac experienced acute renal failure, thus causing high mortality rates.
• They have made conservation programmes like Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre very essential.

A Unique Endeavor in Vulture Conservation

• Even though India has several centres for vulture rehabilitation including vulture breeding centres in Haryana and vulture conservation centre in Madhya Pradesh dealing with several kind of vultures, the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre in Uttar Pradesh India is the only one of its kind in the world which is solely dedicated to the Asian King Vulture.
• Unfortunately, the bird is only found on the IUCN Red List, and its reproduction cycle is not very easy, which complicates the task of increasing the population.
• The establishment of this center clearly reflects the concern of Uttar Pradesh in the protection of bio-diversity and endangered species.
• The state is blessed with so many attractive natural habitats under wildlife and this is a contribution towards the conservancy of threatened species and balanced ecosystems.

A Closer Look at the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre

• Collaborative Efforts
  • It was established under a joint venture of Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and Bombay Natural History Society a premier wildlife organization of India.
  • Situated in the Gorakhpur Forest Division, the center has advantages of this location, which is one of the most biodiverse areas with rather favorable conditions for the wildlife conservation in India.

State-of-the-Art Facilities
Spread across 1. 5 hectares of land and constructed at built up cost of 2.8 crore, the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre boasts several cutting-edge facilities designed to ensure the success of its vulture conservation efforts

• A number of cages for the birds including the vultures where they are placed to enable control their movement
• A special need for decant’s to house young birds to enhance on growth and development.
• A complete hospital and rehabilitation center for medical treatment of the birds that are injured or ailing or even hit by diseases and illnesses.
• A food processing center that would ensure that the vultures get clean and un-poisoned meat to feed on
• An artificial hatching premise for vulture eggs aimed at having a hatchability index of one hundred percent.
• These are facilities which are instrumental in the implementation of the center’s vision which aims at returning 40 pairs of Asian King Vultures to the wild in 8-10 years. These things should help to increase the stock of the species dramatically – and it is hoped, since the threat of its extinction is looming dangerously close.

The Asian King Vulture: A Profile

• Scientific Classification
  • Scientific Name: Sarcogyps calvus
  • Common Name: Asian king Vulture, Red headed Vulture
  • Habitat: Originally inhabitants of northern part of India but their territory of influence existed from present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even up to parts of Afghanistan.
  • Conservation Status: The most severe classification of risk on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the Critically Endangered.

Unique Breeding Behavior

• The breeding system of Asian King Vulture is also unique it breeds in pairs that remain together throughout their lifetime.
• A female lays only one egg per a year that explain the slow rate of recovery of this species in the wild.
• Also, these vultures need large and uninhabited area where they could build nests which makes them very sensitive to any form of habitation.

Threats to Survival

• The survival of the Asian King Vulture is threatened by a variety of factors, including:
  • Habitat loss: Loss of habitat due to matters such as a formation of roads and human settlements.
  • Poisoning from diclofenac: ingestion of diclofenac, a veterinary drug administered to livestock where it becomes fatal to vultures that feed on carcasses containing the substance.
  • Head/neck drooping syndrome: spoilt or poisonous meat affects the neurological motor abilities of the bird causing it to droop its head/neck.

Conservation Strategies at the Jatayu Centre

Controlled Breeding and Release Program

• One of the top measures that this center has adopted on conservation is the act of breeding and releasing the animals.
• Thus, for instance, under one programme when the female vulture lays an egg, the birds are released into the wild and the egg is then brought for artificial incubation.
• This approach was devised with the intent of achieving as high a breeding success rate as possible and to help begin the recovery of the wild population.
• The intention is to sustain captive breeding population and at the same time increase the chance of pare species reintegration back to the wild hence boosting the vulture survive odds in the natural environment.

Safe Feeding Initiative

• The most serious threat for the birds, including the Asian King Vulture, is poisoning headed by the consumption of the carcasses.
• In doing so and with a view of eliminating this style of feeding, the Jatayu Centre has developed a safe feeding scheme.
• When the vultures feed on the carcasses they are fed on pure foods meaning there is very little chance of consuming foods containing poison such as diclofenac or other health hazardous foods that are found in dead animals.

A Step Towards Sustainable Conservation

Broader Conservation Efforts in Uttar Pradesh

• This is the reason why the inauguration of the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre is a very positive in the field of conservation of Indian bio-diversity.
• Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath said that efforts should be sustained towards wildlife conservation and rising awareness about environment.
• He ordered forest department to set up a forestry college in Gorakhpur so that there is enhancement in the field of forest, its management, and wildlife.
• The Jatayu Centre will be supported by this college to create educational opportunities for the future generation of wildlife and forest conservationists, managers and researchers who will be instrumental in the protection of the remaining bio-diversity in this region.

Conclusion: A Bright Future for the Asian King Vulture

• Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre can be regarded as unique project among all the similar ventures in the sphere of wildlife.
• Being the first ever world facility for the Asian King Vulture, it is a step up for the conservation process of endangered species.
• Measures include; better breeding of the endangered vultures through breeding programs, safe feeding of the birds, and subsequent release back to the wild in the decades to come.
• Due to support of the government, wildlife organizations, and the public, this project will be an indicator of survival of the Asian King Vulture and the necessary protection of the endangered species in Uttar Pradesh and other regions.

FAQS

Q1: What is the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre?
Ans: The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre, located in Uttar Pradesh, India, is the world’s first dedicated conservation and breeding center for the Asian King Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), also known as the red-headed vulture. Its goal is to increase the population of this critically endangered species.

Q2: Why is the Asian King Vulture critically endangered?
Ans: The Asian King Vulture population has declined due to habitat loss, poisoning from contaminated carcasses (particularly those treated with diclofenac), and slow reproduction rates. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Q3: What makes the Jatayu Centre different from other vulture conservation centers in India?
Ans: Unlike other centers that focus on multiple vulture species, the Jatayu Centre is exclusively focused on the Asian King Vulture, allowing for specialized breeding and conservation efforts tailored to this species.