Mumbai-based naturalist Sanal Santosh captured a long-billed Vulture on camera at Malang Gad near Kalyan in Thane district. Santosh, currently working as a naturalist at Forsyth Lodge in MP, visited Malang  Gad near Dombivli on January 14 at 8 am, as he was in Mumbai for a few days. He had decided to visit Malang Gad to see raptors.

Santosh said, “This is a well-known place for raptors, so I was excited that I would see a few for sure. Around 10.30 am, as I was clicking a few record shots of booted eagles, I noticed a massive bird soaring above them. As I had a point and shoot camera, it was easier for me to click a shot of the scavenger. To my surprise, it was an Indian vulture. This is the second time I have seen bird like this among other raptor species. The other record occurred in Vadodara, Gujarat, at Timbi Lake in 2022. I’m glad to see vultures near urban lands as the years go by.”