About Indian white-backed vulture:
- They are medium-sized, dark vultures.
- Scientific name: Gyps bengalensis
- Distribution: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam.
- Habitat: Found mostly in plains and less frequently in hilly regions. Can also be seen in villages and cities near to cultivation.
- Features:
- Adults are 75 to 85 cm tall.
- White neck ruff, rump and under wing coverts.
- Adults tend towards black coloration, while younger individuals are browner
- Their wing span is 180 to 210 cm
- Weight: Ranges from 3.5 to 7.5 kg
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Q1) How many species of vultures are found in India?
A total of nine species of vultures are found in India. Out of these six species are resident (white–rumped vulture, Indian vulture, slender-billed vulture, red-headed vulture, bearded vulture and Egyptian vulture) and three species are migratory (cinereous vulture, griffon vulture and Himalayan vulture).
Source: In Landmark Moment, 13 Critically Endangered Vultures Released In Bengal
Last updated on January, 2026
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