Endangered vulture flies free at Karnataka sanctuary following 24/7 rehab for fracture

A critically endangered Indian vulture has been successfully released back into the wild at the Sri Ramadevarabetta Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, following a 24/7 rehabilitation process for a leg fracture. The People for Animals (PfA) wildlife hospital in Bengaluru's Kengeri collaborated with the Karnataka Forest Department for the rescue and recovery of the young bird.

With only a single breeding pair of Indian vultures residing in the sanctuary, the newly released bird's survival is crucial for the species' ecological significance. Indian vultures have faced a sharp decline in recent decades due to the veterinary painkiller diclofenac, although the use of the drug has been banned. This particular vulture, hatched around six months ago, was among only three vultures in the sanctuary.

The fracture occurred while the bird was learning to fly, landing on rocky terrain. Upon spotting the motionless vulture, forest officials alerted the PfA wildlife hospital's rescue team. X-rays revealed a significant hairline fracture in the femur, but due to the risk of surgery, natural healing was chosen. The bird was provided a kennel to prevent further injury and monitored around the clock, with veterinarians working in eight-hour shifts.

After four weeks, follow-up X-rays showed the bone was healing naturally. The bird progressed from a limp to flight trials in larger aviary enclosures before being carried up a hill in the sanctuary and released. The experience was not new for the hospital, which had previously treated an Egyptian vulture.