Wild Himalayan griffon vulture sighted in Maharashtra Melghat Tiger Reserve

Exam-focused facts from the 11 February 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

A wild Himalayan griffon vulture was sighted in the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, marking a significant milestone in vulture conservation.
The vulture population in the region had experienced a sharp decline by 2004 due to the use of harmful Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
The sighting follows collaborative conservation and rewilding initiatives between the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Maharashtra Forest Department.
Captive-bred long-billed vultures were released into the wild earlier this year as part of the ongoing restoration programme.
Technological tracking is being employed to monitor the survival and adaptation of the vultures in their natural habitat.