Nagpur: A juvenile Himalayan vulture was recorded at Bor Tiger Reserve in Wardha district, in a rare sighting that ornithologists say underscores the reserve’s significance as a habitat for migratory and rare bird species.The bird was spotted on March 28 by Dr Babaji Ghewade, president of Bahar Nature Foundation, Wardha, who was on a safari at the reserve with his family. Ghewade photographed the large vulture-like bird soaring overhead and shared the images with biologist Darshan Dudhane, who initially suspected it to be an Indian vulture — a species with prior records in the Bor landscape over the past three years. The photographs were further examined by ornithologists Dr Raju Kasambe, Dr Sachin Ranade and Shashank Nagarale, who confirmed the bird as a juvenile Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis).The Himalayan vulture is primarily distributed across high-altitude Himalayan regions. Juvenile birds migrate towards central India during harsh winters to escape extreme cold and typically return to the Himalayas by late February as temperatures rise. However, some juveniles stray further in search of food or due to navigational limitations, occasionally leading to starvation or mortality.According to Dr Jayant Wadatkar, honorary wildlife warden of Amravati district, earlier records include sightings of Himalayan vultures in distressed conditions at Melghat Tiger Reserve, with a similar sighting reported in February.Bor Tiger Reserve has seen increased vulture activity in recent years, partly due to release efforts. Several vultures were released in the region from Pench Tiger Reserve with support from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Some of these birds, during dispersal, were rescued near human habitations in injured or weakened conditions by People for Animals Rescue head Kaustubh Gawande.
