From Bhopal to Uzbekistan: Rescued vulture flies 3,000km across borders

Bhopal: A rescued cinereous vulture released into the wild from Madhya Pradesh’s Halali Dam has flown over 3,000 km across international borders to reach Uzbekistan, in what wildlife experts are calling a major success story for the state’s growing vulture conservation programme.

Also known as the black vulture, the rare migratory bird was rescued in an injured and weak condition from Sironj in Vidisha district on Dec 19, 2025, and treated at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Kerwa near Bhopal, jointly run by Van Vihar National Park and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). After nearly two months of care, the vulture, which falls in IUCN’s near threatened category, was released into its natural habitat at Halali Dam in Raisen district on Feb 23 this year by chief minister Mohan Yadav.

Wildlife officials said the bird remained around Halali Dam for almost a month before beginning its long migration journey on April 10. GPS tracking initiated by Van Vihar with support from WWF-India and BNHS first traced the bird moving through Rajasthan before entering Pakistan. It later crossed Afghanistan and finally reached Uzbekistan on May 4.

Officials said the journey highlighted the extraordinary endurance and navigation abilities of vultures, while also showcasing Madhya Pradesh’s emergence as a key centre for scientific wildlife conservation. Conservationists noted that tracking the bird’s movement across countries has provided valuable scientific data on migratory patterns of the globally significant species.

The successful rehabilitation and migration of the cinereous vulture comes at a time when vulture populations across South Asia continue to face threats from habitat loss, poisoning and veterinary drugs. Wildlife experts said Madhya Pradesh’s use of GPS tracking, scientific monitoring and specialised treatment facilities is helping strengthen conservation efforts for endangered scavenger birds.