Bhubaneswar: An Egyptian vulture rescued recently has been released into Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary.
According to reports, some locals had spotted the rare vulture near the Kalinga Stadium area on April 30.
Following information, the locals, in association with volunteers of Grow with Nature, an NGO, managed to capture the vulture and handed it over to the Forest Department on May 1. The Forest staff, after conducting the health check-up of the vulture at the range office at Patrapada, released it into Chandaka-Dampada Sanctuary on May 5.
According to wildlife researcher Gayatri Devi, the Egyptian vulture is among the nine vulture species that are found in India. Though this species is not found in Odisha, it was spotted in some areas in Ganjam district in 2013 and 2016.
Expressing concern over the rapid dwindling in the number of vultures, she said as vultures, known as scavengers, play a major role in cleaning the environment, more research should be done on these species about their food and habitat for their preservation.
