WWF-India collaborates with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and Bombay Natural History Society for a landmark satellite tracking initiative to advance data-driven vulture conservation and strengthen protection efforts across Central India and the Central Asian Flyway.
Bhopal: In a major advancement for raptor conservation in India, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, in collaboration with WWF-India and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has launched a satellite telemetry programme to monitor the movement and survival of rescued and captive-bred vultures across varied landscapes.
On Monday, 23 February 2026, five rescued raptors — four Indian vultures (Gyps indicus) and one cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) — fitted with high precision GPS GSM satellite transmitters were released by Dr Mohan Yadav, the Honourable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, at the Halali Dam at the trijunction of Bhopal, Vidisha and Raisen forest divisions. The rescued birds were rehabilitated at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Bhopal and underwent a structured acclimatisation and observation period of approximately two months prior to their release. The tagging exercise was conducted in the presence of representatives from all the stakeholders, including a Wildlife Veterinarian from Wildlife SOS.
Cinereous vulture © Ratul Saha / WWF-India
This initiative marks a significant step towards understanding the evolving “vulture scape” of Central India. While the Indian vulture is largely resident, the cinereous vulture undertakes long-distance migrations across the Central Asian Flyway—one of the world’s most important avian migration corridors in the world that spans over 30 countries, the Arctic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
The telemetry data generated through this programme will offer critical insights into how these endangered scavengers use landscapes, move across regions, and respond to anthropogenic pressures. It will help identify key stopover sites and feeding grounds, shed light on movement ecology across protected and human-dominated areas, and highlight high-risk zones susceptible to electrocution, poisoning, and habitat degradation. The scientific evidence gathered will support more effective threat mitigation and strengthen landscape-level conservation planning including cross-boundary collaboration.
Shri Subharanjan Sen, IFS, PCCF (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh, emphasised the significance of the initiative, stating: “Madhya Pradesh has long been a stronghold for vulture population in India. By integrating satellite telemetry with our ongoing conservation initiatives, we are moving beyond periodic population assessments to a deeper understanding of species ecology and survival requirements. The insights generated will support the creation of safer landscapes and ecological corridors for these vital scavengers.”
For policymakers, the programme provides a strong scientific base for adaptive conservation strategies. Vultures are essential to ecosystem functioning as nature’s sanitation workers, helping prevent disease spread and maintaining ecological balance. Understanding their spatial use is crucial for both biodiversity protection and public health.
Tagging of an Indian vulture © Dr Amit Dubey / WWF-India
Mr Ratul Saha, Director of the Raptor Conservation Programme at WWF India, highlighted the broader significance of the study, noting: “Raptors are powerful indicators of ecosystem health, yet their migratory pathways across regions and countries remain insufficiently understood. Tracking the cinereous vulture along the Central Asian Flyway will generate valuable evidence to strengthen transboundary conservation frameworks. This initiative reinforces our commitment to evidence-based management for securing the future of both resident and migratory birds of prey.”
As India advances its commitments under national wildlife action plans and global flyway conservation frameworks, this telemetry initiative signals a decisive shift toward data-driven and landscape-level conservation. By integrating field-based protection with modern technology, Madhya Pradesh is setting a benchmark for vulture recovery efforts in the country.
Indian vulture © Dr Rohan Shringarpure / WWF-India
The results are expected to guide adaptive management, enhance interstate and international coordination along the Central Asian Flyway, and reinforce India’s leadership in safeguarding endangered scavenger species. Ultimately, the initiative represents a collective commitment to creating resilient ecosystems where vultures continue to serve as sentinels of environmental health.
