Residents of Rukanpur village near Khanpur, Punjab, captured a vulture, identified as a Eurasian griffon vulture after it was separated from its flock and fell to the ground. The bird, known for scavenging carrion, was later handed to wildlife officials.
Videos showed villagers excitedly surrounding the bird, some attempting to film it. A villager noted that they cared for the vulture, providing it with meat, though it could not fly or eat.
He stated his commitment to the bird’s welfare, having alerted wildlife authorities to ensure its recovery. Subsequently, officials from the provincial wildlife department arrived to take the vulture into their care, planning to rehabilitate it until it could return to the wild.
The World Wildlife Fund has classified certain vulture species, like the oriental white-backed and long-billed vultures, as critically endangered. This status has urged global action to prevent their extinction in Pakistan, which hosts eight vulture species.
In a related incident, wildlife guards in September rescued an injured leopard from a water channel in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Haveli area. Despite no visible injuries, the leopard could not move its hind legs, suggesting severe internal injuries. Lacking advanced equipment, the team used traditional methods to safely secure and safely transport the leopard for treatment. Later, an X-ray confirmed four bullet wounds, validating their concerns about its condition.
