Thailand Releases Rare Vultures

[sbk]

Thailand releases rare vultures back to nature

CHIANG MAI, May 10 (TNA) - A Thai environmentalist Thursday released a rare vulture back to nature, hoping that the bird would return to its native habitat in Mongolia after a plan to sent it back by commercial air carrier failed to materialise because of the bird flu scare.

The Cinereous Vulture was released along with four Himalayan griffon vultures in a mountainous area of northern Thailand near the Myanmar border.

Veterinarian Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua, who led a project to oversee the bird's recovery, said the year-old male vulture, not found in Thailand, had been nursed back to health by veterinarians from the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST) and the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.

The bird apparently became lost in late December, and was found dehydrated and near death in Soi Dao district of Chanthaburi province in Thailand's east, he said.

However, he said, the plan to transport it back to its origin in Mongolia faced a problem after China and South Korea rejected the request citing avian influenza (bird flu) concerns.

Finally, Mr. Chaiyan said, the project partners decided to let the vulture fly home itself and chose to release the bird at Doi Pha Hom Pok in Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai in the north as it is the second highest mountain in Thailand and it is believed Doi Pha Hom Pok is the shortest distance from Mongolia.

The bird was implanted with tracking devices to allow environmentalists to follow its route back home, he said.

Apart from the Cinereous Vulture, the vet said, four Himalayan griffon vultures were released at the same time as he hoped it would be better if the birds were released in a flock.

Vultures are social animals, he said, and it should be easier for them to find food.

It is currently thought that there are less than 4,000 Cinereous Vultures in the world, scattered in mountains from central Spain to north-east Mongolia.

The bird has been sighted at altitudes up to 7,000 metres on Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain. (TNA)-E003

MCOT news

[WaiWai]

Wow.

Hope they all do well.

[Monkeypants]

I have seen lots of Thai Vultures.....

Mostly in Pattaya though

[vultureintree]

they haven't caught me!

[Nignoy]

Nice to read about Griffon Vultures,Used to breed them and do free flying shows ,When I was a young Falconer enjoy the piccies Nignoy

[mallmagician]

I've met a few vultures in thailand! All birds.

I wish them all the best of luck in getting to Mogolia!

Phil

[Crow Boy]

Nice to read about Griffon Vultures,Used to breed them and do free flying shows ,When I was a young Falconer enjoy the piccies Nignoy

Hi Nignoy - I am trying to guess which photo is of you

CB