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Vulture chicks hatched in captivity
The very first captive Oriental white-backed vulture chicks have hatched at the Haryana breeding centre in India. The first chick hatched on the 1st January and the second on the 9th January. Unfortunately both chicks failed to survive to fledge: not unusual for these long-lived birds in their first breeding attempt. Nonetheless, the progress is still several years ahead of schedule, telling us that conditions are right for the breeding programme. In total 9 pairs of white-backed vultures formed pairs, with a further three pairs of long-billed vultures.
The breeding centre where the chicks have hatched, in Pinjore, Haryana, is one of two set up to house wild birds caught to protect them from remnant uses of diclofenac. The other centre is at the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal.
Chris Bowden, Head of the RSPB's Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme said: "The hatching of this vulture chick is a hugely important milestone and shows that the vulture breeding programme really can help save the vultures once diclofenac is removed from the environment.
"Most of the 130 vultures at the breeding centres were collected as nestlings, so are far too young to breed. So this early sign of success gives us confidence that the conservation breeding programme is on track."
Dr Asad Rahmani, Director of the Bombay Natural History Society said: "The ban on the killer drug diclofenac must be implemented urgently and effectively to make sure these vultures have a future. The increasing availability of meloxicam means that farmers and vets can switch to the new drug. But this must happen immediately, if we are to avoid losing the last remaining wild vultures."
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