UP’s First Conservation Centre For Vultures In Gorakhpur

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Introduction

Uttar Pradesh’s first vulture conservation and breeding centre is set to be established at Bhari Baisi village in Pharenda range of Gorakhpur forest division.
Divisional forest officer, Gorakhpur, Avinash Kumar said, the proposal to establish the centre was approved on Thursday by joint secretary of the state’s environment, forest and climate change department, Deepak Kohli.

The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre would be set up covering an area of five hectares.
The centre would be developed on the lines of the Pinjore Conservation and Breeding Centre in Haryana, the nation’s first for vultures

This vulture breeding and conservation centre will be the first in India which will be dedicated to
Red-Headed king vulture.
Also the first vulture conservation and breeding centre in Uttar Pradesh.

Also known as the Asian King Vulture & Indian Black Vulture.
Up to 85 cm (34 in) long and weighing 3.7-5.4 kg.
The exact purpose of the striking bald head of a Vulture has long been assumed to be a form of protection from infection; as they puttheir whole heads into carcasses.

State government has already allocated Rs 82 lakh for the vulture conservation centre which will come up over 5-hectare area.
The project will take 15 years to be fully completed and it will cost around Rs 15 crore.
But the basic infrastructure of the centre including lab, breeding centre, quarantine centre, residential complex for doctorsand staff etc. will be completed in 4 years.
It will start breeding and conservation of red-headed king vulture by next year.
The establishment of the centre will be under the control of Gorakhpur forest department.
Bombay Natural History Society and the Wildlife Research Institute will provide technical help.
As per the 2013-14 census, around 900 vultures were found in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh.