Forest Department released poster on the occasion of International Vulture Awareness Day
PRESS NOTE 03-09-2022
ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL VULTURE AWARENESS DAY
On the occasion of International Vulture Awareness Day, the WWF, India (World Wide Fund For Nature) Hyderabad Chapter has brought out a Poster in Telugu language showing all the 9 species of Vultures in India. The Poster on Vultures of India was released by R.M. Dobriyal, IFS, Prl. Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) & Chief Wildlife Warden at Aranya Bhavan, Hyderabad in the presence of Ms. Farida Tamphal, State Director, WWF, Hyderabad and other officials of WWF and Telangana Forest Department to create awareness among the people for Vulture Conservation.
Vultures perform a very important role in the Ecological System and help in maintaining Ecological Balance. Vultures are scavenging Birds feeding on carcasses of dead animals and humans thereby keeping the environment clean and free of diseases. The earth had a sizable population of Vultures performing this important function in the Ecosystem.
However, in recent years there has been a drastic decline in the population of Vultures globally. It is estimated that, over 95% of Vulture population has disappeared from the face of the earth. Vultures are now critically endangered and are on the verge of extinction. Studies have revealed that indiscriminate use of Veterinary drugs in treatment of cattle and use of pesticides in farming are the main causes of death of Vultures.
The situation is no different in India. It is estimated that only about 2% of the Vultures are now surviving in the Country. The Govt. of India and State Governments all over the country are making efforts to conserve the remaining Vulture population and to build up the numbers to a viable level. India has 9 species of Vultures surviving in very small numbers in different regions. The well-known species are White Backed Vulture, Long Billed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Himalayan Vulture etc.
In Telangana Long Billed Vultures are being conserved in Bejjur Area of Kagaznagar Division in KB Asifabad District. A Hillock name Palarapugutta located on the border of Telangana and Maharashtra is the site identified for in-situ conservation of Vultures. This is the only conservation site in South India.
In addition Vulture breeding program for White Backed Vulture is taken up in Nehru Zoological Park. It is hoped that, with sustained efforts, the Vulture conservation program can result in increase in population.