Why In News?

• Recently, the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati achieved an unprecedented feat by successfully breeding the rare Himalayan vulture in captivity for the first time in India.

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• One of the oldest and largest vulture species in the world, the Himalayan vulture has huge and formidable wings.
• Black and brown colors predominate on their wings.
• With its help, it helps them to camouflage themselves in the rugged mountainous terrain.
• They play an important role in the ecosystem by feeding on decaying organic matter (especially dead organisms).
• The Himalayan vulture is aptly named, as it primarily inhabits the high peaks and valleys of the Himalayan mountain range.
• It is a common winter migrant occurring in the Indian plains.
• It is distributed in many countries including India, Nepal, Bhutan and China, where it thrives in difficult high altitude conditions.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Threatened Species
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix II