4 Vulture Conservation Centres to be set up Zoos

Bhubaneswar, Nov 6 (UNI) As a measure to save the endangered white backed vultures from extinction, the famous Nandankanan Zoo here will soon set up a Vulture conservation centre to undertake the breeding management.

Along with Nandankanan Zoo, three other Indian zoos ---- Bhopal Zoo, Junagarh Zoo and Hyderabad Zoo were also selected for setting up conservation centres.

The decision to set up Vulture Conservation centres at four important zoos in the country was taken by the Ministry of Environment and Forest which had convened a meeting with the wildlife experts in New Delhi in January to develop future strategies to conserve the endangered species.

Nandankanan Zoo Director Ajit Pattnaik said the captive breeding of the white backed Vultures would be set up within the next six months to fulfill centre's commitment towards the conservation of endangered species.

Mr Pattnaik said ''It was a challenging task as the status of the species is vulnerable.'' Birds would be in captivity and hence would need specialised care and nursing to survive. Wild birds, he said are extremely nervous and likely to struggle for right choice of construction material, adding that the pens should not be very large as it would make it difficult to catch or monitor them.

He said the Vultures need a lot of water to bathe and drink, so provision for clean water in large water trough inside the aviaries would be provided.

This apart, shaded areas would be provided in the aviaries where vultures could take shelter when it rains. Non-conducting material would be preferably utilised for providing shade. In addition to the above Quarantine aviary, nestling or nursery aviary and hospital aviaries would be established in the Zoo, Mr Pattnaik said.

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