Bhupender Yadav calls for expansion of vulture safe zones

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday called for expanding Vulture Safe Zones and strengthening technical capacity to support the recovery of India’s declining vulture populations in the wild,according to sources.Yadav was speaking at a national workshop, ‘From Crisis to Recovery – Conserving India’s Vultures’, held in Panchkula, Haryana, to mark International Vulture Awareness Day 2026. Haryana Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh, along with senior officials, scientists, veterinarians and conservation experts, attended the event.
Highlighting the ecological importance of vultures, Yadav said they play a vital role as efficient scavengers by disposing of animal carcasses, recycling nutrients and maintaining ecological balance. India is home to several resident and migratory species, including White-rumped, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Red-headed, Egyptian and Himalayan Griffon vultures.The minister said India’s vulture populations have suffered a sharp decline since the 1990s, largely due to disruption of their food supply and the use of veterinary drugs whose residues can be fatal to vultures feeding on treated livestock carcasses.
Yadav stressed the need for a “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach, including vulture-safe veterinary practices, assured safe food sources, scientific capacity building and proper carcass management. He also urged veterinary professionals, livestock owners, local administrations and communities to participate actively in conservation efforts.
Earlier, Yadav reviewed the conservation-breeding programme at the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore. During 2025-26, the centre housed 356 vultures, bred 35 chicks, released or contributed 87 vultures for reintroduction and transferred 90 birds to other conservation-breeding institutions.The workshop brought together conservation stakeholders to strengthen coordination and promote scientific research, safe habitats, conservation breeding and community participation for the long-term recovery of vultures in the wild.A coffee table book, ‘Story of Jatayu: Saving India’s Vulture’, documenting India’s vulture conservation journey, was also released at the event.