Himalayan vulture rescued by ACRES dies after condition deteriorated quickly
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The Himalayan vulture was rescued by ACRES on Jan 11 and died on Jan 15 after its condition deteriorated quickly.
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SINGAPORE – A Himalayan vulture rescued by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) died on Jan 15, the animal protection charity confirmed on Jan 19.
This is the second death of a Himalayan vulture after another bird rescued by the National Parks Board (NParks) was put down
ACRES chief executive officer Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan told The Straits Times that a post-mortem showed that the large raptor in its care died of “acute intoxication from pre-existing kidney and gastrointestinal problems”, which were exacerbated by stress and exhaustion.
Its carcass has been transferred to the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, he added.
The migratory bird was rescued by ACRES on Jan 11
Mr Kalai said: “During his treatment, the vulture seemed to show glimpses of progress. While he was being attended to indoors, we were separately preparing our outdoor cage for him as well, as it can be stressful for such a large bird to be confined indoors.
“Sadly, his condition took a sudden turn for the worse and deteriorated quickly over a 12-hour period on Jan 15. Our vet team responded immediately with emergency care, but the vulture passed on close to midnight while under attempts by our vet team to stabilise him.”
On Jan 14, The Straits Times reported that a vulture rescued by NParks was euthanised. Its carcass was also transferred to the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum for education and research. The museum is on the National University of Singapore’s Kent Ridge campus.
Responding to ST’s queries, the museum’s assistant senior curator of birds Tan Yen Yi confirmed that the museum received the vulture’s carcass from ACRES on Jan 16. It also worked closely with the relevant agencies and authorities to ensure appropriate handling, documentation and preservation of the specimen.
Dr Tan said: “The Himalayan Griffon Vulture is a rare vagrant species in Singapore, and each confirmed occurrence is of scientific and historical significance.
“Accepting both specimens allows for proper documentation, preservation and potential comparative study, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of these rare events and the animals’ biological condition.”
Like the first carcass, the second will also not be on public display to retain its scientific value.
She added that wildlife rescue and veterinary teams acted according to established protocols, guided by clinical assessments and considering animal welfare.
Previous similar efforts include the joint rescue, rehabilitation and successful release of a rare cinereous vulture
Dr Tan said: “As an institution dedicated to natural history, we are not involved in rescue or treatment decisions; our role begins post-mortem.
“By preserving these specimens, we ensure that these rare occurrences contribute meaningfully to scientific knowledge, conservation research and long-term reference, rather than being lost without record.”
Mass sightings of Himalayan vultures
The Himalayan vulture – native to mountain ranges in northern India – is considered a vagrant bird species in Singapore. This means it appears far outside its normal geographic range, usually as a rare and irregular occurrence.
Known for their long, broad wings and whitish streaks on their brownish mantle and scapulars, the birds are currently classified as “near threatened” by BirdLife International, a global partnership of non-governmental organisations dedicated to bird conservation.
