Mumbai, 28 December (H.S.):A long-billed vulture released as part of a wildlife conservation initiative in Maharashtra has completed an extensive flight across the state, covering nearly 750 kilometres in just over two weeks, officials said on Sunday.

The bird, identified as J132, was released inside the Pench Tiger Reserve on December 11 under a joint programme of the state forest department and the Bombay Natural History Society. Satellite tracking data showed that by December 27, the vulture had reached the Nashik region, close to the Anjaneri hills near Trimbakeshwar.

During its journey, the vulture moved through multiple districts spanning Vidarbha and Marathwada, including Nagpur, Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, before heading west towards Nashik.

Officials said the movement pattern provides valuable insights into vulture dispersal behaviour and underlines the importance of landscape-level conservation efforts for the protection of the species.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar