Up, up and away - rare vulture returns to the wild
Anakin, a rare Black Himalayan vulture nurtured back to health, was released yesterday morning in the wild near Burma in the hope that it would find its own way back to nesting grounds in China and Mongolia.
As travelling companions for Anakin, four brown Himalayan griffon vultures were also set free at Doi Pahompok.On January 5, Anakin was found lost and emaciated in Chanthaburi's Soi Dao district. The young bird was sent to the care of Kasetsart University's Animal Hospital in Nakhon Pathom, where along with the four griffons - found injured in the sea around the same time - it was restored to good health. Before a gaggle of Thai and international media, the five migratory birds were shown out of their cages, but did not fly away immediately. Instead, they formed a circle with Anakin in the middle, stretching and flapping their wings. Some 40 minutes later, the four griffons finally lifted off, followed by Anakin. Veterinarian Chaiyan Kasorn-dorkbua said a Bt200,000 chip was attached to Anakin's wing so that the rare bird's migratory flight patterns could be studied. The chip would beam data to the Argos satellite, which would relay the information to the United States every 14 hours during the summer and every 12 hours in winter. Anakin's position would be transmitted to Thailand every three days. Chaiyan said Anakin and the four griffons were the first migratory bird group that Thailand had rescued, rehabilitated and released to nature. He expressed hope that the systematic study of these rare birds - especially their seasonal routes - would be used as a guideline to help many other migratory birds that lose their way here. Only 20,000 Black Himalayan vultures exist worldwide. Jongkhai Worapongsathorn, chief of Doi Pahompok National Park, said the five birds might linger around the mountain for two to three days to adjust to the wild before heading across Burma to their birthplace. The Nation CHIANG MAI
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