Delhi Zoo Seeks Mate for Lone Egyptian Vulture Jatayu After 20 Years

Jatayu, the Delhi Zoo's lone Egyptian vulture who has spent more than two decades living alone, may soon receive a breeding partner after authorities initiated efforts to find him a mate.

The Delhi Zoo has submitted a formal proposal to the Central Zoo Authority to pair the bird and is currently in discussions with zoological parks across two other states, zoo director Sanjeet Kumar said.

According to Kumar, pairing animals that currently lack breeding partners is a major priority for the zoo administration, which is simultaneously looking for mates for several other species housed in the facility. The names of the specific institutes will remain confidential until the Central Zoo Authority grants formal approval for the proposal.

A zoo official stated that the timing of the proposal is linked to International Vulture Awareness Day, which is marked globally on the first Saturday of September, falling on September 5 this year.

In addition to talks with other zoos, authorities are examining the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre located in Pinjore, Haryana. Zoo officials are scheduled to visit the Pinjore facility on September 6 to study its breeding and conservation initiatives.

Zoo officials noted that birds and animals cannot simply be transferred directly from breeding facilities to the zoo. Instead, acquisitions must take place through formal mechanisms, such as animal exchange programmes or official gifts.

The Pinjore centre is jointly operated by the Haryana Forest Department and the Bombay Natural History Society. The facility specialises in the conservation breeding of Gyps vultures and has also carried out programmes to release captive-bred vultures back into the wild.