In a remarkable story of resilience and nature’s endurance, a rescued Eurasian Griffon Vulture — found injured in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh — has successfully flown more than 15,000 kilometres across multiple countries and returned to India. After being rehabilitated and released in March 2025, the vulture made an extraordinary round-trip spanning India → Pakistan → Afghanistan → Uzbekistan → Kazakhstan → and back.
This journey stands as a powerful symbol of hope for migratory birds and emphasizes the importance of cross-border cooperation in wildlife conservation.
The Story: Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release
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January 2025: The vulture was found injured in the forests of Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh. Forest officials and veterinarians rescued and stabilised the bird.
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The bird was treated at rehabilitation centres including a national park facility, where it regained strength and was fitted with a satellite radio collar.
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March 29, 2025: Once deemed fit for flight, it was released into the wild near Halali Dam (Vidisha).
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What followed was nothing short of extraordinary — a migratory odyssey across continents, spanning diverse terrains and climatic zones.
The Epic Route: From India to Central Asia — and Back
Tracking data revealed the vulture’s path:
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First flying north from Madhya Pradesh through the plains and borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan
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Crossing Uzbekistan and reaching Kazakhstan — marking one of the longest documented journeys by a rescued Indian vulture
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After spending time in Central Asia, likely resting and foraging, it began its return — crossing the same international corridors and re-entering India via Rajasthan’s Dholpur district
By mid-November 2025, forest officials confirmed the vulture was back on Indian soil — a testament to its strong homing instincts and survival skills.
Why This Vulture’s Journey Matters
✔ Demonstrates Incredible Resilience & Navigation
The vulture’s ability to recover from injury, survive rehabilitation, and still complete a trans-continental flight proves the remarkable endurance and navigational capabilities of Griffon vultures — even after trauma.
✔ Highlights Migratory Connectivity Between Countries
The journey underlines how wildlife doesn’t respect human-drawn borders. International migratory corridors — spanning South Asia to Central Asia — are vital for species survival. Conservation demands collaboration across nations.
✔ Valuable Data for Conservation & Research
Satellite tracking during this journey provides critical insight into migratory paths, stop-over sites, flight speed, altitude, and habitat use — essential for designing protected corridors and mitigating threats.
✔ Reminder of Urgent Need for Vulture Conservation
Vultures in India have faced drastic population declines over the past decades, with many historical nesting sites lost. The success of this one bird gives hope — and underscores the need to protect habitats and reduce threats like poisoning and habitat loss.
Broader Significance for Ecosystems
Vultures like the Eurasian Griffon play a crucial ecological role — as nature’s “sanitation workers.” By consuming carcasses, they prevent disease spread, recycle nutrients, and maintain ecosystem health. The safe return of this rescued vulture is a positive sign for biodiversity conservation across Asia.
What We Can Learn & Do
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Support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres — they can make the difference between death and a second chance.
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Protect migratory corridors spanning countries — conservation isn’t just local; it’s international.
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Promote vulture-friendly practices: avoid use of harmful NSAIDs (like diclofenac) on livestock, ensure safe carcass disposal.
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Encourage satellite-tracking and research — data helps design better protection and understand migration patterns.
Conclusion
The incredible journey of this once-injured Eurasian Griffon vulture — flying 15,000 km across multiple countries and returning home — is more than an inspiring story. It is a testament to nature’s resilience, the importance of timely conservation action, and the urgent need to protect migratory species and their habitats across borders.
As “Marich” (the vulture) soars back into Indian skies, its flight reminds us: with care, cooperation, and commitment, we can give wildlife a second chance — and safeguard fragile ecosystems for future generations.
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