Vulture : Threat in Greater Panna landscape

News Highlights 

Study  tracked 25 vulture highlights their habitat threat in the Greater Panna landscape

It is a joint telemetry project conducted by the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) and Wild Institute of India (WII) 

• Objective:
  • To save vultures from extinction and small steps have already been made in this regard.
• How the study conducted ?
  • The vultures in the study, each of which were tagged with solar-powered GPS devices included 
    • 13 Indian vultures(Least Concern) including two critically endangered red-headed vultures
    • 8 Himalayan Griffons (Near Threatened)  
    • two Eurasian Griffons (Least Concern)
  • The GPS devices include 3D acceleration sensors and universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) and ultra-high resolution (UHR) antennas tracked through satellite transmission of data from the tags.
• Findings of study 
  • Indian and red-headed vulture
    • The Indian vultures, especially the red-headed vultures have caused us concern as they mostly stayed in the Greater Panna landscape, a part of which is going to be submerged in Ken-Betwa Link Project,”

• Himalayan Griffons
  • Himalayan Griffons travelled to Tibetan region of China, Uyghur regions of China and the Karakoram range in Nepal. 
  • Later in 12 days, they travelled to Kazakhstan. 
  • Their entire journey reveals that they follow green landscape which is close to water bodies and travelled around 100 km a day.”
• Eurasian Griffons 
  • They moved towards the west
  • Travelled to different parts including Pakistan , Lal Suhanra National Park of Bhawalpur 

Vultures

• It is one of 22 huge carrion-eating bird species found primarily in the tropics and subtropics.
• Significance:
  • Ecological 
    • They play a crucial role as garbage collectors in nature, helping to keep the environment free of waste.
    • Vultures are also important in the control of wildlife illnesses.
  • Social 
    • Vultures play a key role in the death ritual of the Parsi community where the dead body is given to vultures. 
• Threats Faced by Vultures
  • Poisoning from the drug diclofenac, which is used to treat livestock.
  • Anthropogenic activities have resulted in the loss of natural habitats.
  • Food scarcity and tainted food
  • Power lines electrocute people.
• Efforts to Save Vultures
  • Vulture Action Plan 2025 –  The Vulture Safe Zone program is implemented in eight distinct locations around the country, including two in Uttar Pradesh, where there are still vulture populations.
  • The Vulture Conservation Breeding Program was created by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
  • Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change produced the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation, and the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) banned the use of diclofenac in veterinary medicine.
  •  Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centers (VCBC), three of which are managed directly by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

Pic Courtesy: Hindustan Times

Content Source: Hindustan Times