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VANISHING VULTURES

Young Bites. Dated: 1/17/2018 11:08:25 AM

G L Khajuria
The species of vulture have utterly suffered at an extremely rapid pace of decline in their population. In the recent couple of years, since the last two to three years, the red-headed vulture which is famed as Asian king vulture has faced an adverse situation. The Indian black vulture and Pondichary vulture are facing the same serious on slaught and are critically endangered. These vultures are at their highest risk category assigned by IUCN red list for wildlife species. The population of vultures in India are on rapid decline which is quite unbelievable. The most fundamental cause of such depletion is owing to the fact that these mostly subsist on carcasses of animal being treated with the veterinary drugs diclonfenae which was banned in 2006 together with other multihued factors viz hampering their habits and habitats. The read headed vulture (sarcogyps calbus) as the scientific name implies, has a very deep red to orange neck which is devoid of feathers. The body and billsare black and as such is prominently called as Indian black king vulture. And when these are in flight, a white band underneath its wings and white patch on thigh and the base of neck are apparently visible through binoculars which mark its distinguishing features. The new world king vulture (sareoramphus papa) is totally different from the Indian king vulture. It is found in central and southern America and is a member of new world vulture family cathartidea. The new world vulture is least concerned category of ICUN.
Though scarce inhabit, it is widespread breeding resident throughout the low lying areas. Infact, they prefer open country spaces with cultivated areas or some desert regions.
It is the only reason that these are often sighted in the Bundlehalkh and some areas of India which offers them a suitable ground. These are also seen in the outskirts of villages. There is a strong correlation between Indian king vultures and carnivores viz Tigers, leopards, wolfs in Bandha vaguer national park in MP, Dudhawa National Park in UP, Kumbhal Garh wildlife century in Rajasthan and Nilgiri north forest division in Tamil Nadu. The Indian king vultures are carrion feeder. The behaviour of red- headed vulture is contrary to its reputation for bravado and valor. It is believed by the bird watchers that they are the first one to feed on carcasses and until they are satisfied these continue with their feed consisting of flesh of their choice. However, the truth is that the red-headed vulture are inodorous and gutless. They watch the other vultures from a distance while they are feeding. They wait for their turn and move forward the carcass only when the others have fully satisfied or moved away. Some nature lovers and bird watchers have, couse noticed cannibalistic behaviours among the king vulture in Bandhar garh national park in that they continue feeding on carcass of long built vultures. They rest solely or with other gips species on high and dry and leafless trees. They make their nest from November onward on the top braches of leafless trees. These trees include coral wood (Admanthera) Kom (Milragyna parvifolia), ficusreligiosa (peepal), Bargad, Babool (Acacia nilotica) and such like large trees. They lay single egg in one breeding period and parental duties are being performed by both the sexes. The nests are left unguarded most of the time but the vultures are always on active surveillance lest any outsider animal or bird damage the egg and if nesting sites are disturbed, they are immediately shifted to some safer and secure twigs of tall trees in the outskirt of villages and towns. There are various reasons responsible for declining of the population of these vultures which include unavailability of nesting or feeding sites due to habitat destruction by diclofone drugs which is considered as the second cause of extinction of large number of vultures. Industrialization and urbanisation are the other bigger causes in declining their population on the outskirts around the villages and urban areas watch have largely been brought under industries and other structures thereby pushing them out of their erstwhile habitats. The large towering trees that had been used by the vultures are often destroyed by the herders in particulaar, apart from other multihued agencies. The herder moves about in the outskirts of the villages and their periphery around the forest with their herders. They chop off the branches and shoots to feed their herds, particularly the goats. The towering tree serving as the nesting sites have also been field for a number of developing projects and their allied such as national highways with no plantation done reducing the nesting and roosting sites and this practice is drastically on past pace. Then imagine, where this poor vulture will go in for seeking their habitats. Man is hell bent in drastically destroying their natural habitats, which over the years the nature had bestowed them.
According to bird life international back in 1988, the red headed vultures were least concerned within a span period of five years. They were thus put in the category of near threated/lower list and subsequently considered as near threatened in 2004. Keeping in view their further declination bird life international put them under critically endangered in the year 2007. So their journey for a period of around 20 years spanning (1988 to 2007) had by all parameters proved to be unpleasant.
Red headed vultures were very common in kerala in 1930 but today no bird is sited expect in waynad wildlife centuray. In some cases, as that of Bhatti in Delhi, one of the richest eco system. The bird watcher supported a pair of red headed vultures feeding on a jackal carcass and likewise in lucknow bird watchers sited the Indian king vulture in 1916. This amply reveals that the siting of vultures had become e phenomenon of resting in our country. At this crucial guncture, speedy conservation measures are as such warranted over their declining numbers. Public sensitization is preferably the call of the hour. In the contest, awareness campaign is warranted as for example community participation is mostly needed for conservation and management of vultures in Tikamgarh funded and supported by the MP government and its wildlife board. The Indian biodiversity conservation society, vulture conservation awareness as well interaction campaigns are the dire demands in conserving vultures. Taking a clue from Nepal, the community forest users groups in madanpokhara, palpa in Nepal are doing yeoman service to their country conserving the vultures. And to cap this, all, dumping carcasses play a very dominant part in that these should be dumped at a particular site, thereby providing the vultures the feeding which can go a long way in their conservation and sustainability in a bigger way. Save vulture not only for their beauty and charm but also as a scavengers to make India neat and clean.
The author is former deputy conservator of forests, J&K
Email: glkhajuriafor@gmail.com
Mob: 9797683140