A Eurasian Griffon Vulture named Marich, released from Halali Dam in Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha district in March, has returned to India after completing an astonishing 15,000-kilometre journey across Central Asia. Forest officials tracking its movements confirmed the bird is currently circling the Dholpur region of Rajasthan.
Vidisha Divisional Forest Officer Hemant Yadav said the bird had travelled through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before re-entering India. “Tracking provides information on vulture migration patterns and conservation, and Marich’s every activity is being monitored,” he said.
The bird’s long-distance flight marks a remarkable turnaround from the injuries it sustained earlier this year. Marich was found wounded at Nagaur village in Satna district on 29 January, after which it underwent treatment at Mukundpur Zoo and later at Bhopal’s Van Vihar National Park.
Following two months of recovery, the vulture was fitted with a satellite radio collar and released from Halali Dam on 29 March. Since then, the device has allowed real-time monitoring of its movements across some of Asia’s most challenging landscapes.
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Experts say vultures such as the Eurasian Griffon play an essential ecological role by feeding on carcasses, preventing the spread of disease and helping recycle nutrients that enhance soil and water quality. The species is typically found in the mountainous, arid belts of Europe, North Africa and Asia.
The vulture is known for its impressive build, measuring between 95 and 110 centimetres in length, with a wingspan of 2.5 to 2.8 metres and a weight of 6 to 11 kilograms. Its brown plumage and distinct neck feather garland are key identifiers.
Capable of soaring for hours on thermal currents, the Eurasian Griffon is built for endurance, a trait Marich has demonstrated with its cross-continental trek, offering conservationists new insights into the movement of these high-altitude scavengers.
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