World’s first Asian King Vulture

Current Context : Uttar Pradesh will establish World’s first Asian king vulture Conservation & Breeding Centre in Maharajganj.

• It will improve the population of critically endangered species listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list since 2007.
• The centre is named as Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre.
• Objective : to ensure the good health of growing vultures and provide them with a pair.

ABOUT ASIAN KING VULTURE

• It is one of the 9 species of Vulture which are found in India.
• It is also known as the Asian King vulture or Pondicherry Vulture.
• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
• These are endangered due to the loss of their habitats and the excessive use of diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in domestic animals, which becomes poisonous for vultures.