Vulture breeding centre at zoo

Andhra Pradesh

Rs. 41-lakh project aimed at initiating captive breeding of white-backed vultures

The structure set up for captive breeding to be out of bounds for visitors

HYDERABAD: Coming in the wake of concerns over decline in the vulture population, the vulture breeding centre at Nehru Zoological Park here is all set to become operational in a month’s time. The Rs. 41-lakh project with funds from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is aimed at initiating captive breeding of the endangered white-backed vultures. Being set up on the lines of similar centre at Pinjore, Haryana, special structures to facilitate the breeding, conservation and care are nearing completion and the zoo officials hope to make it functional by August 15.

As of now, the zoo has five of these vultures, two male and three female, and the plan is to acquire 25 more pairs shortly.

“Once necessary permissions from authorities are obtained we will collect them from different States,” an official said.

The structure set up for captive breeding is split into different sections and all are to be out of bounds for visitors when the necessary ambience is created for them. “To monitor the birds inside, CCTVs are being installed and no one will step inside the facility. Necessary arrangements are being made to provide their feed such as carcass and goat meat, from outside,” he said.

Apart from a holding aviary for larger birds meant for captive breeding, the centre will also have a nursery aviary for the newborns and a hospital aviary for the sick ones in need of treatment. Also to come up is a quarantine aviary, where newly brought in vultures from outside are kept for sometime before being allowed into the holding aviary.

The long term plan for the project, officials add, is to breed vultures in captivity and then be able to release in the wild when they are ready.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/24/stories/2009072460420800.htm