16.3. VULTURE

India has nine species of vultures in the wild. They are the

1. Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis),

2. Slender billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris),

3. Long billed Vulture (Gyps indicus),

4. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus),

5. Red Headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus),

6. Indian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus),

7. Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis),

8. Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) and

9. Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus).

♤ Decline of vulture populations in India was first recorded at the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Rajasthan

♤ The decline of Gyps genus in India has been put at 97% (over a 12 year period) by 2005.

♤ Similar declines have occurred in other countries in Asia, including Nepal and Pakistan.

♤ In India the population of three species i.e. White-backed Vulture, Slender billed Vulture and Long billed Vulture in the wild has declined drastically over the past decade.

♤ Red-headed vulture or king vulture, Slender billed Vulture and Long billed Vulture are listed as critically endangered.

♤ Populations of Egyptian vultures and White-backed Vulture have also undergone decline in India and are now classified as Endangered.

♤ It is initially thought the drastic decline in population was due to non-availability of food (dead livestock) or an unknown viral epidemic disease, but later on confirmed that decline in population was due to the drug diclofenac.