Jaipur: A young Indian Griffon Vulture was successfully rescued and released in Jaipur through a joint effort by the Forest Department, Raksha Sansthan, Wildlife Vets International and the Jaipur Airport Authority.
On July 25, Lokesh Yadav of the Jaipur International Airport's Wildlife Hazard Management Team spotted an injured Indian Griffon Vulture near the airport boundary and alerted the authorities. Soon after receiving the information, teams from the Forest Department and Raksha Sansthan rescued the bird and shifted it to the rehabilitation centre of Raksha Sansthan.
During examination, veterinary experts found that the vulture had no serious injuries but was severely dehydrated. It is believed to have been a young, first-flight individual that became disoriented in the city due to unfavourable weather conditions and a lack of suitable thermals for flight.
Rohit Gangwal of Raksha Sansthan said that Indian Griffon Vultures use thermal air currents while flying and can easily cover distances of 200–300 kilometres in a single flight.
After two days of treatment and supportive therapy, the vulture recovered fully and was successfully released into its natural habitat. The release was carried out in the presence of ACF Jitendra Singh Shekhawat and Range Officer Joginder Singh from the Forest Department; Lokesh Yadav of the Jaipur Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Team; and Rohit Gangwal, Yashwant Singh Sisodia and Viraj Mahawar from Raksha Sansthan.