ANGUL: A rare vulture was rescued from a village forest at Sureipal under Kaniha forest range in Angul district on Tuesday. Members of a voluntary organisation, Nature Environment Wildlife Society (NEWS), identified it as a juvenile Himalayan griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis).
The vulture was spotted by some villagers of Sureipal in the forest under Gandamala beat of Kaniha range under Angul division. On receiving information, members of NEWS rescued and handed it over to forester Padma Charan Swain of Rengali forest section.
The vulture had injuries and it was finding it difficult to move, said Jitendra Behera of Kaniha Forest range.
The extent of injuries could not be ascertained, he added. The bird has been sent to Nandankanan Zoological Park for veterinary care as per the direction of Dr Sudarsan Panda, RCC of Angul Circle, Jitendra added. The vulture is a protected species under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and categorised as Near Threatened by IUCN.