The state’s maiden vulture breeding centre in Muta, 22km from Ranchi, may not have taken wing as yet, but Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ormanjhi, closer to the capital, may soon boast a special winged guest. Forest officials and wildlife experts in Hazaribagh have nursed back to health a two-year-old Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis), which was found in a village 8km from town two weeks ago, and plan to give it a new home at Birsa zoo. Wildlife enthusiast Satya Prakash, who runs the voluntary organisation Neo Human Foundation, and range officer Gopal Chandra said a flock of griffon vultures had migrated from the Himalayan region to Hazaribagh in October-November because the district has an altitude of 2,000 metres. “The juvenile bird was found in Chutiyaro village in Saroni area on May 13. It apparently got dehydrated during its return journey to the Himalayan region and fell down. Villagers informed DFO (east) Ajeet Kumar and we rescued it from Chutiyaro. The bird was administered ORS,” Satya Prakash said, adding that the vulture was showing signs of improvement and had started eating on its own now. The activist said they treated the bird under the able guidance of Vibhu Prakash, principal scientist at the vulture conservation and breeding centre in Pinjore, Haryana. “But, there is a problem. We are not sure whether it will be able to fly back to the mountains if released. First, it has been separated from its flock. Second, it is too young to have developed navigation skills that birds are known to have,” he added. So, for now the young griffon may be sent to Birsa zoo, 15km from Ranchi. “We will provide a handling guide to the zoo authorities,” Satya Prakash said. Currently, Hazaribagh boasts the maximum count of this scavenger. However, the 246 vultures found in the district are not as big as the Himalayan species. The griffons are large raptors that have a wingspan of 260cm to 310cm and can weigh up to 12kg. Their plumage is pale overall, with whitish to creamy-white body and wing-coverts. The flight feathers and the tail are dark brown. The juveniles are darker than adults. The Himalayan bird inhabits mountains between 1,500 metres and 4,000 metres of elevation. It may perform altitudinal movements during winter, while juvenile birds wander down onto plains too.