Vulture estimation process begins

INDORE: With a new hope of saving the vulture, first time ever the counting of all species which are found in Madhya Pradesh has begun with the state forest department. The department is now conducting workshop in which around 80 forest officers of three different forest range are discussing over the identification of preferred locations for these endangered birds.
Sub-divisional officer of forest department, RN Saxena told that the forest personnel posted in Indore, Ujjain and Khandwa range are taking part in workshop and are learning about how to recognize vultures.
“The counting of vultures would be done in two parts wherein the first count would be conducted on January 23 which would be at the time of their breeding season, while the second survey on April 23 when the eggs will hatch. Their nesting sites will also be marked so that the area can be made diclofenac (anti-inflammatory drug) free,” said Saxena.
Saxena further told the experts educated the all the officers about how to find and identify a vulture during the workshop. “It is very important for all the officers to learn about the species of vulture and their chracteristics. We would be tracing their location as they have capacity to fly within 100 km,” said Saxena. The officers during the survery would also find out suitable location where they can migrate the birds and eggs.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Ravi Shrivastava told that there is a greater need to conserve vultures which are now critically endangered. “The Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) Management has been conducting vulture estimation surveys from last 4 years and similar to this we would be taking help of national and local bird experts in conducting the survey.”
City-based ornithologist, Ajay Gadikar who is working on Vulture in MP, said around 7 species of vultures are found in the state out of the total 9 species found in India. “Out of them 4 are resident species and 3 are migratory species. In Indore and nearby areas Egyptian Vultures aslo known as Scavenger s or ‘SafedGiddha’ are mostly found,” told Gadikar. As per his study they are moslty seen as Devguradia area (the dumping ground), Ralamandal Sanctuary and near well wooded forest areas of near Indore, even in nearby villages. “This species has seen a sharp decline in their population from modest 50-60 birds to 10-20 now. The hope of it increasing in near future is very low,” he added.
Vultures, considered nature's most efficient scavengers, primarily feed on dead bodies of wild animals as well as domestic ungulates. The birds have been dying on a mass scale after feeding on carcasses that were administered diclofenac 72 hours prior to their death.
Box: The resident Vulture species are:
1. Gyps Bengalensis (White-rumped vulture)
2. Gyps indicus (Long-billed vulture)
3. Sarcogyps calvus (Red-headed vulture),
4. Neophron percnopterus ginginianus (Egyptian Vulture).
The winter visitors are
1. Gyps fulvus (Eurasian Griffon Vulture),
2. Gyps himalayensis (Himalayan Griffon Vulture),