Bhubaneswar, June 16: Conservation efforts at Nandankanan Zoological Park have suffered a setback following the death of a three-month-old Long-billed Vulture chick born under its conservation breeding programme.
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The chick, which hatched on March 11, 2026, was found unresponsive on Monday morning. Veterinary teams immediately examined the bird and declared it dead. The cause of death has not yet been determined, and the carcass has been sent for post-mortem analysis.
With this loss, the Long-billed Vulture population at the zoo has declined to 10, dealing a blow to ongoing efforts aimed at restoring the species in the region.
Vultures had nearly vanished from Odisha after the 1999 Super Cyclone, prompting focused conservation action in the years that followed. In response, the Central Zoo Authority established a national vulture conservation breeding programme across select zoos, including centres in Junagadh, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, and Ranchi.
At Nandankanan, the dedicated breeding centre was developed in 2011–12 in a protected off-exhibit area spanning 0.3 acres, surrounded by a larger undisturbed forest zone. The facility was built with financial support from the Central Zoo Authority at a cost of ₹57.84 lakh.
After years of sustained effort, conservationists recorded a key milestone when a breeding pair — male K-42 and female K-46 — successfully reproduced between December 2025 and January 2026. The egg laid on January 16 eventually hatched on March 11, and the chick was carefully monitored around the clock using CCTV and veterinary supervision.
Officials described the loss as deeply disappointing for conservation teams working to rebuild the vulture population, given the species’ vital ecological role in maintaining environmental balance.
Further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of death. Conservation teams have reiterated their commitment to strengthening breeding protocols and improving protection measures for the species.
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