Hazaribagh, Jharkhand is emerging as a safe habitat for vultures, with regular presence and natural breeding recorded.
Five of the nine vulture species found in India occur in Hazaribagh: White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Himalayan Griffon and Egyptian Vulture.
The Jharkhand Forest Department has proposed a conservation-cum-breeding centre in Hazaribagh.
India’s vulture population has declined by more than 95% in the past three decades, mainly due to toxic residues of some Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) used for livestock.
A proposed 100-km vulture safe zone will cover areas of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar.