Nashik: In what is being considered a major success for India’s conservation efforts of the critically endangered vulture, a bird released in the wild recently has travelled more than 1,600 km over 56 days.
The vulture covered its longest single day journey of 168 km on June 17, researchers at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) said on Sunday.
Tagged J132, the bird was released in Nashik on June 7 after two earlier release attempts ended with its recapture to improve its physical condition and chances of survival.
Displaying strong flying ability, survival skills and adaptation to the wild, the vulture has travelled more than 1,618 km over the past eight weeks, the BNHS said in a statement, as reported by The Tribune.
“Crucially, field monitoring teams observed J132 successfully associating with multiple wild vultures in the Dol Ohol and Deodongra areas of Nashik,” BNHS director Kishor Rithe said.
“Even during periods of very heavy rainfall, teams visually confirmed the tagged bird independently locating and feeding on cattle carcasses alongside the wild flock, proving his complete behavioural adaptation,” he added.
The bird has maintained a steady average daily flight distance, with its longest single-day flight measuring 168 km on June 17, satellite tracking over the past eight weeks showed.
According to the statement, it has been moving across northern Nashik, an important habitat for vultures, and has also flown along the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, including parts of Valsad district, according to the statement.
J132 was first released at the Pench Tiger Reserve on December 11, 2025, as part of the second batch of captive-bred Indian vultures. It flew more than 750 km to Nashik within 20 days before researchers recaptured it to improve its fitness.
A second release earlier this year was also followed by recapture before the bird was released for the third time on June 7 in Nashik, and it has completed 56 continuous days in the wild, demonstrating exceptional navigational ability, site fidelity and survival instincts, the BNHS said.
The bird has now fully adapted to life in the wild, Rithe said.
BNHS researcher Manansingh Mahadev, who is monitoring the bird, said J132’s continued presence in northern Nashik highlights the importance of the region for the conservation of critically endangered Gyps vultures.
“The rugged cliffs and favourable habitat make northern Nashik an important refuge for vultures. Tracking J132 will help us identify future release sites and strengthen conservation planning,” he said.
The bird remained safely perched during periods of heavy rain in late July, demonstrating natural behaviour in coping with harsh weather, researchers said.
The successful rehabilitation of J132 is an encouraging step in efforts to restore India’s critically endangered vulture population, the BNHS said.