Rare Himalayan vulture rescued after road sightings spark attention near Singapore’s East Coast Parkway
A rare Himalayan vulture caused a stir after it was spotted along the East Coast Parkway, before being rescued by wildlife officers and placed under veterinary care.
- A Himalayan vulture was seen along ECP and Tanah Merah Coast Road over the weekend.
- The distressed bird was rescued by ACRES and is undergoing treatment for dehydration and exhaustion.
- Himalayan vultures are migratory birds occasionally spotted in Singapore during winter months.
SINGAPORE: A huge Himalayan vulture caused a stir both on the road and on social media after it was spotted near East Coast Parkway (ECP) on Sunday, 11 January 2026.
Videos circulating online showed the large bird flapping its wings on a roadside grass patch and later walking along the shoulder of the expressway. Birdwatchers also reported seeing a Himalayan vulture along Tanah Merah Coast Road a day earlier, though it is unclear if it was the same bird.
Responding to queries from local media, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) said it received a call about a distressed large bird struggling after being stranded in a canal and along the ECP.
ACRES chief executive officer Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan said a rescue team led by three volunteers was deployed and successfully rescued the male Himalayan vulture, which is now under the care of ACRES’ veterinary team.
Initial diagnosis shows exhaustion and dehydration
According to Mr Kalai, the bird’s initial diagnosis points to dehydration, overall weakness and exhaustion, likely due to a long migratory journey.
“We are still assessing it and hope to fully rehabilitate the large bird for release in the near future,” he said.
Migratory bird rarely seen in eastern Singapore
The Bird Society of Singapore notes that Himalayan vultures are migratory and are usually sighted in the region between late December and early January.
Most sightings in Singapore have occurred in the central and western parts of the island, with fewer records in the north and east.
Native to the Himalayas, northern and northeastern India, and the Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayan vulture is the second-largest Old World vulture species, with a wingspan of 2.5 to 3 metres and a weight of up to 12kg.
These birds are scavengers that feed mainly on dead animals and play an important role in ecosystems by clearing carcasses.
Younger Himalayan vultures are more likely to be found at lower altitudes and have been recorded across South and Southeast Asia during migration.
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