Injured Vulture with 'Dhaka' Inscription Found in Jharkhand | 14 Aug 2024

Why in News?

Recently, an endangered white-backed vulture with an injury was discovered in a dam in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district. The vulture had a metallic ring fitted to one of its legs, which was inscribed with the word 'Dhaka'.

Key Points

  • The police suspect that John Malot, a bird researcher from Dhaka who is associated with the UK-based Royal Society for Protection of Birds, released the vulture after fitting it with a solar-powered radio tracking collar in order to monitor the bird's movements from Dhaka to Jharkhand.

Indian white-backed vulture

  • They are medium-sized, dark vultures.
  • Scientific name: Gyps bengalensis
  • Distribution: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam.
  • Habitat: Found mostly in plains and less frequently in hilly regions. Can also be seen in villages and cities near to cultivation.
  • Features:
    • Adults are 75 to 85 cm tall.
    • White neck ruff, rump and under wing coverts.
    • Adults tend towards black coloration, while younger individuals are browner.
    • Their wingspan is 180 to 210 cm.
    • Weight: Ranges from 3.5 to 7.5 kg.
  • IUCN Status: Critically Endangered