Nilgiris safe haven for vultures

Nilgiris safe haven for vultures

The dawn of the first Saturday in September every year reminds the world about vultures as this day is observed as International Vulture Awareness Day.

Eco-toxicological factors and human interference have gone to such an extent that vultures, the sturdy avian scavengers and nature’s own disposal squad, have now become endangered species and efforts are needed to conserve them.

They do nothing wrong rather than safely dispose the decomposing and putrefying carcass of animals to ensure environmental, especially, jungle cleanliness.

Of course, this makes the vultures most vital birds in the world and it is needless to point out that the world without vultures would be a foul-smelling place engulfed by disease and rotting carcasses.

Much has been said about the impact of veterinary analgesic diclofenac which accounts for the sharp decline in vulture species as they are very sensitive to this drug.

The drug, which enters the vulture population through the food chain, plays havoc with its renal portal system thus causing health complications and kills the animal eventually. Populations of many species are under pressure and some species are facing extinction.

While there is a decline in the population of vultures in the Indian skies, making them critically endangered species, the four species of vultures thriving at Singur plateau and Moyar valley in the Nilgiris have made it a hub for vulture population.

Dr B. Ramakrishnan, assistant professor of zoology and wildlife biology at the government arts college here, who is also member of the state-level steering committee on Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and has done elaborate research on vulture life in the Nilgiris in recent times, stated that out of nine species of vultures in India, four, the white-rumped vulture, long-billed vulture, red-headed vulture which is commonly called king vulture - a rare species, and Egyptian vulture, are found in different parts of south India.

But, Singur and adjacent Moyar valley in the Nilgiris north forest division jurisdiction are the only places where all these four vulture species are found to thrive, making these jungles a paradise for vultures, he noted.

“Viable and vulture-friendly jungle atmosphere, good breeding ground which are available in plenty at Singur and Moyar valley are found to be the reasons for the vultures to thrive there.

Singur and Moyar valley located deep inside the Singur reserve forest are also a disturbance-free area for vultures to thrive. The vultures from here have been recorded to fly up to Sathyamangalam forests in Erode.

“Not only that, the comfort with which they live in Singur and Moyar valley indicates that big cats like tigers and panthers, which kill other small animals for prey and make the carcass the prey base for vultures, also thrive in good numbers there,” he said.

He added that studies on vultures across the hills will continue for some more time to collect more details and factors relating to their breeding habits and aerial movements around the Nilgiris.

Coimbatore greens fight to protect endangered species

For the last 10 years, a small group of environmentalists and bird-lovers based in Coimbatore has been fighting to protect vultures and ensure that the birds do not vanish from the face of the earth.

NGO Arulagham draws its inspiration from environmentalist Arul who passed away a few years ago. “In his memory, we continue working towards the environment and have focused on vultures as the species needs urgent attention,” says Mr S. Bharathidasan, secretary of Arulagham.

Volunteers from Arulagham have teamed up with Care Earth India in studying the white breasted vultures and identify the causes for their dwindling population.

“This scavenger bird that was found in plenty in western Tamil Nadu and the rest of India is now restricted to just a small stretch of forests in the Moyar valley of the Sathyamangalam forest range. According to a recent survey, only 200-odd vultures are still alive,” says Mr Bharathidasan.

The team from Arulagham has divided its task into two: One team tracks the vultures, their nests and monitors the growth of young chicks and the health of older ones; the second has been working to find out if diclofenac is the only cause for the death of vultures or if there are other factors that contribute to the decline in their numbers.

As part of the international vulture awareness day, the group plans to conduct a human chain in the Nilgiris district and awareness campaigns in Masinagudi and other parts of the district. “Our main demand is to ban diclofenac sales completely, at least in the Nilgiris district,” said members of Arulagham.

Plea to set up sanctuary for birds

Wildlife activists in the hills plead for strict monitoring to check stealthy entry of veterinary drug diclofenac and reiterate their demand for establishing a vulture sanctuary in the Singur reserve forests in the Nilgiris.

Saying that the present generation hardly sees vultures in their vicinities as the forest scavengers are now listed in endangered category and need conservation efforts for their very survival, Mr B.K. Kumaran, president of the Nilgiris Ecology and Animals Protection Samithi, said the foresters and drug inspectors should form a team to monitor the use of diclofenac stealthily in the Nilgiris where the vultures are found to be thriving.

This kind of monitoring should be done across the country for the cause of vulture conservation as diclofenac was found to be highly toxic on vultures when they feed on the carcass of animals treated with this drug, he said.

Mr K. Vijay, honorary secretary of the Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association, said wildlife activists across the world are voicing their concern for vulture conservation to protect these critically endangered avian species from the brink of extinction.

Vulture stomach acid is found to be exceptionally corrosive, allowing them to safely digest putrid carcasses infected with bacteria and other pathogens. This amply proves the role played by vultures in maintaining good eco-health in the jungles and their vicinities.

“Since it is established that Singur and Moyar valley areas in Singur reserve forest are the abode for viable breeding population of vultures, it is reiterated that the forest department takes steps to establish vulture sanctuary in Singur reserve forest,” he added.