12 endangered vultures rescued after fleeing severe cold in Nepal, Bhutan and India

Twelve critically endangered Himalayan Griffon vultures have been rescued after they fell on the ground in several areas of Panchagarh.

Officials of Rajshahi and Dinajpur forest departments and Panchagarh district administration rescued the rare vulture species from Mirgarh, Malipara, Station Road, bus terminal areas of the district.

Tapan Kumar Dey, conservator (Wildlife) of the forest department, said the vultures had flown from Nepal, Bhutan and Himachal of India.

"They came here to save themselves from the severe cold in those places but lost their energy for flying miles and fell on the ground," he told this correspondent. The "weak and hungry" vultures were caught by the locals on Sunday and Monday, he said.

Even though, two of the twelve vultures were handed over to the Panchagarh district administration officials immediately, the other ones were recovered from the locals later, Tapan added.

After the recovery, the vultures were taken to the Social Forestry and Nursery Training Centre in Panchagarh, said Arshadul Haque, rang-officer of the forest department of the district.

Veterinary Surgeon Abdus Sobhan said the vultures received primary treatment at the centre and were shifted to Bangabandhu Safari Park in Gazipur later to be released there.