A rare Himalayan vulture caused a stir when it was spotted along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) on Sunday, January 11. The bird drew attention from passersby and was photographed and filmed by many members of the public before being rescued by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES).
One observer shared on the Nature Society Singapore Facebook group that his family was walking back from East Coast Lagoon when his daughter said, “Look! It’s a turkey!” He corrected her, explaining it was actually a vulture, and snapped photos of the bird as it perched on the kerb and later moved to the grass verge. Many bystanders, including a Foodpanda delivery rider, also took photos while the bird flapped its wings but struggled to take off.
Injured Bird Avoids Accidents
Another netizen said on TikTok that she was driving along the ECP towards Changi when the vulture “nosedived” and landed in front of her car. She had to brake suddenly, while her husband got out to stop traffic so the injured bird could move safely to the road shoulder. She described the incident as “very shocking” and said she was lucky that no accident occurred.
Rescue by ACRES
In response to queries from Channel NewsAsia, ACRES Chief Executive Officer Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan said the hotline received a call about a distressed large bird along the ECP. The vulture had also been stranded in a canal and was “struggling” along the expressway. Three volunteers safely rescued the bird, which was identified as a male Himalayan vulture.
According to an initial diagnosis by ACRES’ veterinary team, the vulture suffered from “dehydration, overall weakness, and overall exhaustion” due to its long migratory voyage. ACRES is currently caring for the bird and is still assessing its condition. Mr Kalai said they hope to fully rehabilitate the vulture and release it “in the near future.”
Rare Sightings in Singapore
Himalayan vultures are native to the Himalayas and Central Asia, usually found at high altitudes. Sightings in Singapore are unusual. Earlier this month, a flock of Himalayan vultures was seen gliding over Clementi, which a resident described as “an unexpected visual gift.” The flock later spent the night in Maju Forest.
