This statue of the mythical vulture Jatayu, is located at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre Nature Park in Chadayamangalam, Kerala, India. It is the world’s largest bird statue, measuring 200 feet (61 m) long, 150 feet (46 m) wide, 70 feet (21 m) in height and occupying 15,000 sq feet (1,400 m²) of area.
The statue is based on the legend of the semi-divine vulture, Jatayu, from the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. During the abduction of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, by the evil King Ravana, Jatayu, having spotted Ravana with Sita attempted to intervene and rescue Sita. Swooping down on Ravana, he fought valiantly with his claws, but due to his old age, was soon exhausted. This allowed Ravana to draw his sword and cut off one of Jatayu’s wings. Jatayu fell to the ground upon a rock in Chadayamangalam and Ravana continued with Sita towards his palace in Lanka. Bleeding out, Jatayu lived just long enough to tell Rama and his brother Lakshmana, who were pursuing Ravana, that Ravana had taken Sita and was heading South. Jatayu then died and his last rites were performed by Rama.
The statue depicts Jatayu after he was defeated and had fallen upon the rock at Chadayamangalam.