After Flying 2400 Km, Eurasian Vulture Reaches Home In Uzbekistan; Crosses 3 Countries; Migration Path Studied For 1st Time

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Eurasian griffon vulture, which was tagged with GPS device by Van Vihar officials before its release into the jungle near Halali Dam in April this year, has reached Uzbekistan, which is its homeland.

It covered the distance of more than 2,400 kilometres to reach home. This is for the first time that migration path of a vulture has been studied. Sources in Van Vihar said Eurasian griffon vulture reached Uzbekistan by flying over Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

The flight route adopted by it to return to its mainland has provided an insight to forest officials about the path migratory vultures take to reach Madhya Pradesh during winter season.

Van Vihar officials are now waiting for winter season to know whether the geo-tagged Eurasian griffon vulture will take the same path to visit Madhya Pradesh it undertook to reach its homeland or will it take another route.

The GPS system fitted in vulture’s body is recharged with solar energy and its battery normally lasts for three years or more. As a result, Van Vihar officials will know the flying pattern of Eurasian vulture for two to three years, which will help in studying the habits of migratory Eurasian vultures.

In winter, when heavy snowfall leaves almost nothing to eat in Uzbekistan, Eurasian vultures take a long journey to reach Madhya Pradesh and stay there during winter season. They fly back to homeland when winter ends.

The Eurasian vulture was found stranded and wandering near a village in Satna when winter season was about to end in 2024. It was too weak to fly. It was rescued and taken to Van Vihar National Park. After examination, it was shifted to vulture conservation centre of Kerwa. When it regained health, it was fitted with GPS device and released into the wild.