17/08/2024
A remarkable rise has been witnessed in the population of critically. endangered bird vultures in a span of three years in the Bastar region Chhattisgarh. The number of vultures has risen from 70 to 180 at the Indravati Tiger Reserves (ITR) between 2021 and 2024, ITR Deputy Director Sudeep Balaga told The Pioneer.
Vulture Conservation Research Associate Suraj Nair told The Pioneer that management of carcasses of animals as well as monitoring of vultures' nests played a vital role in the
rising number of the bird. In 2021, only the
critically endangered species of White Rumped Vulture (Gyps Bengalensis) and Indian Vulture (Gyps Indicus) were found in the ITR region.
Now after the development of the habitat,the migratory vulture species Eurasian Griffon Gyps Fulvus) is also seen in large numbers.
To raise awareness among the villagers for conservation of vultures, treatment of cattle was started with herbs instead of allopathic medicines which gave a positive result in increasing the availability of food for critically endangered species of vultures.
With the help of six Vulture Friends (Giddh Mitra), various competitions were organized in schools
besides Gram Sabhas in around 50 villages to make people understand the need for conservation of vultures.
These three species of vulture laid more than 50 eggs and around 30 eggs were developed. Generally, vultures give a single egg once in a year. Now there is a plan for geo-tagging of vultures so that by studying their character they can be given better habitat.
Also, the number of vultures in the Achanakmar Tiger Reserves increased to 40 from 30 in the last years.The Ministry of Union Ministry of Environment selected ITR and ATR for the survey in Chhattisgarh for conservation of vultures.
"Management of carcasses of animals as well as monitoring of vultures' nests played a vital role in the rising number of the bird"
