Madhya Pradesh Vultures: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav released 5 endangered vultures in their natural habitat in Halali Dam. During this, he congratulated the Forest Department and the local administration for their efforts to conserve vulture birds.
Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Monday showed his commitment towards bird conservation in the state by releasing 5 vultures of endangered species in their natural place in Halali Dam area. This group included four Indian vultures (Gyps indicus) and one cinereous vulture (Aegyptius monacus). On this occasion, the Chief Minister said, ‘The state government is committed to the conservation of animals and birds that support the ecosystem. Madhya Pradesh is the state with the highest number of tigers, leopards and other wild animals. It is also number 1 in the country in vulture conservation. More number of vultures are found in Madhya Pradesh than all the other states. Migratory vultures are also included in these. These birds have a special contribution in the ecosystem. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav congratulated the Forest Department and the local administration for their efforts in vulture bird conservation.
safe release of vultures
On this occasion, it was informed that five rare vultures were released after systematic acclimatization and observation in the Vulture Conservation Breeding Center located in Bhopal. All vultures were fitted with high-precision GPS-GSM satellite transmitters so that their movements could be monitored. The tagging process was carried out under the supervision of the forest department, local administration and wildlife veterinarian from Wildlife SOS. The Chief Minister said that this initiative is helpful in understanding the evolving ‘vulture scenario’ of Central India. Indian vultures generally stay in one area, while cinereous vultures migrate long distances within the Central Asian Fly-Way, one of the world’s major migratory bird corridors spanning more than 30 countries.
Vulture and bird conservation efforts
The Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh has started the Vulture Satellite Telemetry Program in collaboration with WWF-India and Bombay Natural History Society. Its objective is to understand the movements, movement patterns and human-induced pressures of vultures. Telemetry data identifies vultures’ key roosts, feeding sites and high-risk areas such as electrocution, poisoning and habitat degradation. Based on this information, strong conservation strategies and data-driven plans at the landscape level are developed. The conservation of endangered vultures in the state and their role in the ecosystem is secured in the long term. Apart from being a leader in vulture conservation, Madhya Pradesh is also setting an example in the country in the field of data-based, landscape level conservation.
Cultural and environmental importance of vultures in Madhya Pradesh
In Indian tradition, vultures are considered a symbol of power and respect. The stories of Jatayu and his brother Sampati in the Ramayana depict the bravery and sacrifice of vultures. Vultures are also nature’s cleaners in the environment. They help maintain environmental balance and also contribute significantly to preventing the spread of diseases. Species like Indian Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Himalayan Griffon are found in the state. Recently, on the first day of Vulture Estimation-2026, more than 1000 vultures were seen in South Panna Forest Division, which is the highest number in the last years.