World's first Asian King Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center to be inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh

Tags: Environment

Uttar Pradesh has set up a state-of-the-art Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Center (JCBC) for the critically endangered Asian king vulture, the first of its kind in the world.

An Overview of the News

• It is located in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh and is spread over 1.5 hectares.
• The JCBC is designed to maintain a sustainable population of Asian king vultures by breeding them in captivity and releasing them into the wild.
• The Asian king vulture is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act and is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
• The use of diclofenac in veterinary medicine in India has led to a population decline in recent years, and the JCBC aims to have at least 40 vultures in captivity over 15 years to ensure the sustainable conservation of the species.
• The Forest Department has partnered with the Bombay Natural History Society for technical guidance.

About Wildlife Protection Act

• Introduction: The Wildlife Protection Act is a law enacted in India in 1972 with the primary objective of protecting the wildlife and their habitats in the country.
• Prohibition: The Act prohibits hunting, poaching, capturing or killing any wild animal listed under Schedules I to IV of the Act, without prior permission from the authorities.
• Protected Areas: The Act designates specific areas as protected areas for the protection of wildlife and their habitats. These include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves.
• Penalties: The Act provides for strict penalties including fine and imprisonment for violations. Repeat offenders may face more severe punishment.
• Amendments: The Act has undergone several amendments over the years, the latest being in 2003 and the amendments aim to strengthen the protection of wildlife and their habitats.