Surat: Of the 145 endangered bird species in India, Gujarat is home to at least 35 of them.

During a three-day long census conducted at the Panna National Park recently, 1,700 vultures were counted within the periphery.

The results of the vulture census in the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) will definitely provide wildlife enthusiasts with a reason to cheer. The count in the third annual estimation exercise that concluded on Monday has registered an increase of 39 per cent over the last year's figures.

While the maximum vulture population this year stood at 1797 (as against 1340 in 2011), the minimum number was 1054 (814 last year) while the average count recorded was 1510 (1079 last year)

There is good news for vulture enthusiasts and bird watchers as the Panna Tiger Reserve will be initiating a three-day “vulture estimation” exercise in the reserve from January 21.

The avian scavenger is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife protection Act, 1972. Nine vulture species are found in the country — Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Indian Griffon Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Cinereous Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Red-Headed Vulture and Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier. Of these, the first six are found in the Panna Tiger Reserve, including the endangered White-backed Vulture and the Long-billed Vulture.

Madhya Pradesh forest department is planning to open the state’s first ‘vulture restaurant’ to conserve the winged scavengers while taking a cue from their counterparts in Pakistan and Nepal.

Conservation measures in the Nilgiris are satisfactory, observed the Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, V.T. Kandasamy here on Wednesday.

The Forest Department of Kerala has just completed the first-ever ornithological survey for the Malabar region recording 341 species of birds.

Dhubri, Oct. 10: An NGO working for the preservation and protection of forests and environment has demanded vulture habitat centre status for Rajapara reserve forest.

Over a third of the Indian pharmacies continue to sell to livestock farmers the banned killer drug, diclofenac, responsible for the dramatic fall in vulture population in the country.