Latest news with #Jatayu
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
No customers, Ayodhya chopper ride stalled
The helicopter tour of Ayodhya, providing an aerial view of the temple town and the Ram temple, has been called off again, due to a lack of customers. The helicopter service, launched on February 19, only operated for a week. The reasons behind the service failing were high fares and only eight minutes of flying time, including one minute for take-off and one minute for landing, people in the know of things said. Om Prakash Singh, a tourism expert of Ayodhya said, 'The per round fare is ₹4,130. If a family of four wishes to ride then they have to pay ₹16,520, which is almost half the monthly earning of a common man,' said Singh, adding 'the helicopter company must decrease its fare below ₹2,000 and and extend the flight time to 15 minutes only then can they attract tourists.' Regional tourism officer RP Yadav declined to comment on the matter, stating that the decrease in pilgrims might have affected the service, but he did not have further information. In the eight-minute aerial tour, six people were accommodated at a time, including the pilot. The ride began with the helicopter taking off from the helipad along the banks of River Saryu. Bookings were only available online, but currently, the helicopter remains on the helipad as there are no pilgrims. Mahant Ramdas of Kartaliya Ashram stated that starting tourism services without proper groundwork is not appropriate. A geographical study of Ayodhya was needed, along with understanding the local environment. Besides, the fare for the eight-minute aerial tour was too high. Ordinary pilgrims cannot afford such a fare, leading to the service failing, he said. In March, 2023, a helicopter service was launched in Ayodhya, which had to be shut down within a few days. This service also offered an eight-minute aerial view of Ayodhya to pilgrims, with each pilgrim required to pay ₹3,000. Initially started as a 15-day trial, the company withdrew after just 11 days. Few takers for cruise service too The cruise service in the temple town has also failed to attract tourists. Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh had inaugurated the Jatayu cruise service on September 8, 2023. However, the service was discontinued in less than two months. The effort was to offer cruise-like experiences, but it failed to attract tourists. Additionally, the water level of the Sarayu River remains very low from November to April, making cruise operations impossible. Installation of idols in temples on June 5 The installation of 14 idols in the Ram Temple complex will take place on June 5, with 101 scholars performing the rituals. On the occasion, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has planned a three-day consecration festival from June 3 to June 5, although rituals will begin on May 30. In all, 101 scholars from Kashi and Ayodhya will conduct the consecration. The consecration of the 14 idols will occur simultaneously in the Ram Temple complex on Ganga Dussehra (June 5). The consecration sequence will begin with the installation of the Shiva Lingam on May 30, in the Shiv Temple of the precinct. The ritual will commence with the worship of the sacrificial pavilion, followed by various other ceremonies. During this time, Vedic scholars will chant mantras, recite the Valmiki Ramayana, read the four Vedas, and perform other rituals. Marble thrones, two feet high, have been crafted for the installation of the deities in their respective temples. Temples where idols will be installed: - Six temples in the precinct: Lord Shiva, Sun God, Ganapati, Hanuman, Goddess Bhagwati, Goddess Annapurna - Seven temples in the Sapt Mandapam: Sage Vashistha, Valmiki, Agastya, Vishwamitra, Ahalya, Shabari, Nishadraj - Lakshman's idol in the Sheshavatar Temple
Time of India
27-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rescued in CG, Himalayan Griffin Vulture reaches Nepal
Raipur: Chhattisgarh achieved a notable milestone in wildlife conservation with the successful rehabilitation of a Himalayan Griffon Vulture, named Jatayu, which was rescued from Bilaspur. After treatment at Nandanvan Zoo and radio-telemetry tagging, the vulture was released on April 11, 2025, and completed a 1,165 km journey through Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar to reach Nepal's Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary . The continuous monitoring effort, supported by the Wildlife Institute of India, provided valuable ecological insights. Two other vultures—a White-rumped Vulture and an Egyptian Vulture—were also successfully rescued and released, underscoring the Chhattisgarh Forest Department's commitment to avian conservation. The vulture's journey included crossing major rivers like the Ganga and Koshi and traversing diverse terrains, indicating that the bird is in good health and exhibiting natural behaviour. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, supported the operation by using radio telemetry technology to track the vulture's movements. This technology provided valuable insights into Jatayu's migration path, roosting sites, and ecological behaviour. A White-rumped Vulture, rescued earlier from the Bhanupratappur region, was tagged by BNHS Mumbai and released from Nandanvan Jungle Safari after initial treatment. It initially flew towards the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and is currently active near Bartara village in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Additionally, an Egyptian Vulture, rescued from the Raipur-Bilaspur highway, was treated and released and is now regularly sighted around the Abhanpur area in Nava Raipur. Dhammsheel Ganveer, director of Nandanvan Jungle Safari, commented on the achievement, stating, "This is a major accomplishment for our state of Chhattisgarh. It will further aid in the monitoring and conservation of both native and migratory bird species."
Time of India
25-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Himalayan Griffon Vulture rescued in Chhattisgarh completes 1,165 km journey to Nepal
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has achieved a notable milestone in wildlife conservation with the successful rehabilitation of a Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Jatayu, rescued from Bilaspur. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After treatment at Nandanvan Zoo and radio-telemetry tagging, the vulture was released on April 11, 2025, and has since completed a 1,165 km journey through Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar to reach Nepal's Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary . The continuous monitoring effort, supported by the Wildlife Institute of India, has provided valuable ecological insights. Two other vultures—a White-rumped Vulture and an Egyptian Vulture—have also been successfully rescued and released, underscoring the Chhattisgarh Forest Department's commitment to avian conservation. Jatayu's journey included crossing major rivers like the Ganga and Koshi and traversing diverse terrains, indicating that the bird is in good health and exhibiting natural behaviour. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, is supporting the operation by using radio telemetry technology to track the vulture's movements. This technology has provided valuable insights into Jatayu's migration path, roosting sites, and ecological behaviour. The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has also successfully rescued, treated, and rehabilitated two other vultures. A White-rumped vulture, rescued from the Bhanupratappur region, was tagged by BNHS Mumbai and released from Nandanvan Jungle Safari after initial treatment. It initially flew towards the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and is currently active near Bartara village in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Additionally, an Egyptian Vulture, rescued from the Raipur-Bilaspur highway, was treated and released and is now regularly sighted around the Abhanpur area in Nava Raipur. Dhammsheel Ganveer, Director of Nandanvan Jungle Safari, commented on the achievement, stating, 'This is a major accomplishment for our state of Chhattisgarh. It will further aid in the monitoring and conservation of both native and migratory bird species.' He further added, 'The journey of Jatayu and the other vultures is the result of scientific and dedicated efforts in wildlife conservation. Such initiatives will provide a new direction to biodiversity conservation in the future.'
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
34 endangered vultures bred in Pinjore get new home in Maharashtra
In a significant boost to India's vulture conservation programme, 34 critically endangered vultures – 20 long-billed and 14 white-rumped – were successfully transferred from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC) in Pinjore, to Maharashtra on Tuesday, coinciding with World Earth Day. The birds are destined for reintroduction into the wild across three key sites: Melghat, Pench, and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserves. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), in a statement, said the birds were being transferred from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore to Maharashtra, where they will be reintroduced to the wild. The transfer marks a significant step in reviving critically endangered vulture populations in central India. According to the statement, vultures, aged between two to six years, were chosen following comprehensive health checks to ensure their fitness for release into the wild. The birds were carefully distributed across all three locations to maintain ecological balance, support successful breeding in the wild and ensure a balanced sex ratio at each site, it said. The vultures were transported in individual wooden boxes, one bird per box, to minimise stress and ensure safety during the journey, and they were fed two days in advance as per standard protocol. The birds were moved in three air-conditioned tempo travellers to maintain optimal temperature and ventilation throughout the transit, it stated. The team was led by Rundan Katkar, RFO, Kolsa, TATR, and supported by veterinarian Dr Mayank Barde from PTR, Manan Mahadev, senior biologist, BNHS, and two forest guards. Chief Wildlife Wardens of Haryana and Maharashtra, Vivek Saxena and Srinivasa Rao and BNHS Director Kishor Rithe monitored and guided the entire operation. The BNHS has set up the four Jatayu conservation breeding centres in the country, at Pinjore, Bhopal, Rajabhatkhawa (West Bengal) and Rani, Guwahati (Assam). The Maharashtra forest department has set up three pre-release aviaries in three tiger reserves in Vidarbha to follow the protocol for soft release. The birds are expected to reach their respective aviaries in two days.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
34 vultures to be translocated to Vidarbha tiger reserves
Nagpur: Maharashtra's forests will be home to 34 endangered vultures, courtesy the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC) in Pinjore, Haryana. On World Earth Day, these endangered vultures were brought to Maharashtra under a rewilding initiative and will be released in three different forest reserves of Vidarbha. According to Kishore Rithe, director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), this group of vultures include 20 long-billed and 14 White-rumped vultures. They will be translocated into three tiger reserves of Vidarbha — Tadoba-Andhari, Melghat, and Pench. "The transfer on April 22 represents a crucial initiative to restore central India's critically endangered vulture populations. The selected birds, ranging from two to six years-olds, underwent thorough health assessments to confirm their suitability for wild release," Rithe said. The translocation includes five vultures earmarked for the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, 14 for the Pench Tiger Reserve, and 15 for the Melghat Tiger Reserve. While Tadoba and Pench received vultures in the first phase of the project, the endangered birds will be introduced in Melghat for the first time. The translocation across these three locations will help to maintain a balanced sex ratio and support natural breeding and ecological equilibrium. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Individual wooden boxes were used to transport each vulture, ensuring minimal stress and optimal safety. Following standard procedures, feeding was suspended two days before transportation. The birds were transported in an air-conditioned vehicle which provided suitable temperature and ventilation conditions. Range forest officer (RFO) Rundan Katkar from Kolsa, TATR led the team, supported by PTR veterinarian Dr Mayank Barde, BNHS senior biologist Manan Mahadev, and two forest guards from TATR and PTR. The operation received guidance from Haryana's chief wildlife warden Vivek Saxena, Maharashtra's chief wildlife warden & PCCF (wildlife) Srinivasa Rao and BNHS director Kishor Rithe. BNHS manages four Jatayu conservation breeding centres nationwide, partnering with state govts in Pinjore, Bhopal, Rajabhatkhawa and Rani, Guwahati. Since 2004, this programme has successfully bred over 700 birds with support from various governmental and conservation organizations. Maharashtra's forest department established pre-release aviaries in three Vidarbha region tiger reserves for soft release protocol implementation. The birds are scheduled to arrive at their respective aviaries within two days. Field directors Prabhunath Shukla (TATR), Kishor Mankar (PTR) and Adarsh Reddy (MTR) supervised aviary preparations. Deputy conservator of forests Anand Reddy (TATR), Bharat Hada (PTR), and N Jeykumaran (MTR) coordinated the birds' safe transport to Maharashtra. (Inputs by Mazhar Ali)
