White-backed vulture-upsc

• The white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the most common vulture species in the continent of Africa.
• A large, buff-brown vulture with pale underwing patches and a diagnostic pale rump patch that is best seen in flight. Prefers open savanna and plains, where it breeds in loose colonies in tall trees. It remains Africa’s commonest vulture but is declining rapidly as it is highly susceptible to poisoning.
• The similar Cape Griffon is larger and paler, with a pale honey-colored eye (visible at close range), and less contrast between the flight feathers and the reminder of the underwing in flight.

^]Why in NEWS?

Captive-bred vultures take wing in forest expanses–The Hindu

According to it, in 2020, eight critically endangered oriental white-backed captive-bred vultures were released into the wild for the first time in India from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana.

Fact to remember:

Scientific name: Gyps africanus

IUCN categories: critically endangered.

About : Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana.

The Jatayu and Sparrow Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), is the world’s largest facility for the breeding and conservation of Indian vultures and the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). It is located within the Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary in the town of Pinjore in the State of Haryana, India. It is run by the Haryana Forests Department and Bombay Natural History Society with the help of British nature conservation charity Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.