Injured vulture with 'Dhaka' inscription found in Jharkhand's Konar Dam

An injured white-backed vulture, a critically endangered species, was discovered in the waters of Konar Dam in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Monday. The bird, found by local fishermen, had a metallic ring on its leg with the inscription 'Dhaka' and a tracking device, raising interest among local authorities and conservationists.

Bishnugarh Sub-Divisional Police Officer B N Prasad confirmed that the vulture falls under Schedule 1 of endangered species, indicating the highest level of legal protection under India's Wildlife Protection Act.

The fishermen who spotted the vulture immediately informed forest officials and the local police. Intelligence Bureau officers also visited the site. Upon examination, the bird was found to have an inscription reading 'gpobox-2624, Dhaka, b67' along with a tracking device and a note stating, "If found, please contact [email protected]...". The vulture has since been taken for medical treatment and will remain under observation.

Authorities suspect that the vulture was part of a research project led by John Malot, a Dhaka-based bird researcher associated with the UK-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The bird is believed to have been released with a solar radio collar to track its movements across regions, which led it to Jharkhand from Dhaka.

"Though no foul play is suspected in the discovery of the vulture, further investigation is being conducted to confirm the details," said the police officer, dismissing any connections to unrest in Bangladesh.