Birds Around Me 0210 - Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)

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Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023


The last time I saw an Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) was maybe 1992, October 2023 trip to Jabalpur took me to the nesting grounds of these majestic birds. I loved to watch them from school windows in 10s on a garbage mound. And their flight was just as elegant. As Dr. Salim quoted "It quarters the heaven sailing majestically for hours on end on outspread motionless wings, canning the countryside for food". A ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac helped their population to recover a bit, still Critically Endangered. 

The nesting site in Katangi, Jabalpur is just as beautiful site. Was overwhelmed to see 20+ vultures soaring above and many more on the perches along the cliff.

Interesting Fact: Jatayu (Sanskrit: जटायुः, Jaṭāyuḥ) is a demigod in the Hindu epic Ramayana, who has the form of a vulture (or eagle).

The people of the Parsi community in India leave the dead bodies exposed in high towers called the Tower of Silence in order for the vultures to feed. A practice still prevalent.

Hindi Name of Indian vulture or long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus): देशी गिद्ध


Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe


Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023

Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus)
Indian vulture or long-billed vulture देशी गिद्ध (Gyps indicus) 
Katangi, Jabalpur, October 2023




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