At a time when crores of rupees are being pumped into the creation of captive breeding sites of vultures across the country, one of the largest natural nesting colonies of Gyps Indicus or long billed vultures (LBV) of the country, on the Bayana cliffs of the Aravalis (40 kms from Bharatpur) in Rajasthan, is turning into a graveyard of these critically-endangered birds and crying for protected stat
LUCKNOW: In a bid to control the rising incidents of man-animal conflict, the state wildlife board has made some strong recommendations to the state forest department.
One of the several recommendations made by the wildlife board includes halt to the usage of diclofenac, a banned drug. According to experts, the drug is one of the major causes for decline in vulture population in the country.
Out of the 9 species of vultures, more than 90 per cent of two species of vultures, the white-rumped and long-billed, have been wiped out. The main reason for such a decline in the population has been attributed to presence of diclofenac. The manufacture of diclofenac for cattle is now banned.
During the study period from July, 2004 to July, 2008, a total of 5735 vultures of seven different species were recorded in different geographical regions of Rajasthan. Their presence near the carcass dumping grounds in villages, towns and cities in common.
ANGUL: THERE has been a growing concern across the country over the fast dwindling population of vultures. Gone are the days when we found vultures in groups flying in the sky or fighting for a carcass.
Jodhpur: Despite the fact that population of vulture is constantly declining in the state, nothing substantial has been done so far to conserve these natural scavengers.
Though they are being treated at the rescue centres of the zoos, researchers have stressed the need of creating separate enclosures for them where a captive care can be carried out for the better results.
Lucknow: The forest department is planning to take up the census of vultures in state with an aim to offer the endangered natural scavengers the needed protection. The department, however, is not alone to have thought about the cause. A few conservationists would also join in the effort.
The death knell was sounded only five years ago when environmentalists found that the vulture was vanishing faster than the dodo before its extinction.
