Van Vihar seeks soft release aviary for captive vultures

Van Vihar National Park authorities have sent a proposal to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to construct a soft release aviary near Halali Dam, aimed at gradually introducing captive-bred vultures to wild conditions.

- Rajan Raikwar

Currently, the vultures are kept in closed enclosures at the Vulture Conservation Centre in Kerwa, surrounded by walls and covered by tin sheds, and are fed goat meat. The proposed aviary, spread over around 800 square feet, would be net-covered, allowing birds to see surrounding areas and interact with wild vultures. In this setup, they would be fed cattle meat, helping them adjust to natural food sources.