First successful post-release breeding of captive-bred White-rumped Vultures Gyps bengalensis (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in the wild at Buxa Tiger Reserve, India

Authors

  • Soumya Sundar Chakraborty Buxa Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre and Aviary, Rajabhatkhawa, West Bengal 735227, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India; Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7374-564X
  • Debal Ray West Bengal Public Service Commission, 161-A, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9789-4773
  • Apurba Sen Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Northern Circle, West Bengal. S.J.D.A. Complex, Jalpaiguri, P.O. Danguajhar, District, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal 735121, India.
  • P.J. Harikrishnan Office of the Deputy Field Director (West Division), Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar, West Bengal 736122, India.
  • Nabi Kanta Jha Additional Wildlife Warden, Jaldapara National Park

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10470.18.7.29314-29321

Keywords:

Conservation breeding, Critically Endangered, Diclofenac, NSAID-safe zone, platform transmitter terminal, reintroduction, satellite telemetry, vulture conservation

Abstract

The population of White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis declined catastrophically across South Asia during the 1990s due to diclofenac poisoning, prompting captive-breeding programmes aimed at eventual species recovery through reintroduction. Between 2021 and 2023, the Buxa Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre and Aviary in West Bengal released 31 captive-bred individuals into Buxa Tiger Reserve. In 2023, six released birds formed three pairs and constructed nests; one pair (tags N3 ♂ and P6 ♀) successfully hatched and fledged a chick after a 112-day nestling period in 2024. The two remaining nests failed during incubation, likely due to first-breeder failure. This represents the first confirmed post-release reproduction of captive-bred Gyps bengalensis in India, and the second documented site globally — successful breeding by captive-bred released birds was previously reported only from Nepal. This observation provides initial evidence that captive-bred individuals can successfully reproduce when released into an NSAID-safe landscape. 

Author Biography

  • Nabi Kanta Jha, Additional Wildlife Warden, Jaldapara National Park

    He is currently serving as the Additional Wildlife Warden, Jaldapara National Park, Government of West Bengal. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and has been involved in research projects in the fields of environment and ecology. His professional experience spans alpine ecology, forestry, and wildlife conservation.

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Published

26-07-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 7 (2026)

Section

Communications

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Copyright (c) 2026 Soumya Sundar Chakraborty, Debal Ray, Apurba Sen, P.J. Harikrishnan, Nabi Kanta Jha

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