International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 Celebrations
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) celebrated International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 at Panchkula, Haryana, with Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav inaugurating a national-level workshop on the theme 'From Crisis to Recovery – Conserving India’s Vultures'. The event was organized in collaboration with the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Haryana Forest & Wildlife Department, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), and the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore.
Conservation Achievements and Approach
Minister Yadav highlighted the government's holistic ecosystem-oriented conservation model, emphasizing coordinated efforts through a 'Whole of Government' and 'Whole of Society' approach. The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, a collaborative initiative of the Haryana Forest Department and BNHS, reported significant achievements during 2025–26: the facility housed 356 vultures, successfully bred 35 chicks, released or contributed 87 vultures for reintroduction, and transferred 90 birds to other conservation-breeding institutions. Additionally, JCBC trained 1,222 participants from 22 institutions, strengthening technical capacity for vulture conservation.
Ecological Significance and Challenges
The minister emphasized vultures' vital ecological role as highly efficient scavengers that facilitate nutrient recycling and maintain ecological balance. India faces challenges including climate change, human-animal conflict, and a sharp decline in vulture population since the 1990s due to disruption in their food chain and use of pain killers for animals that were consumed by vultures. India is home to diverse vulture species including White-rumped, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Red-headed, Egyptian, Himalayan Griffon, Eurasian Griffon, Cinereous, and Bearded Vultures.
Conservation Initiatives and Call to Action
The government called for continued creation of Vulture Safe Zones through vulture-safe veterinary practices, ensuring safe food availability, and technical capacity building to aid species recovery in the wild. Minister Yadav appealed to veterinary professionals, livestock owners, local administrations, and communities to actively contribute to vulture conservation and promote safe carcass-management practices.
Additional Events and Publications
During the inaugural session, a coffee table book titled 'Story of Jatayu: Saving India's Vulture' was released, chronicling India's vulture conservation story from population decline to successful breeding programs. The event also included a prize distribution ceremony for online drawing and digital photography competitions on vulture conservation.