(IN) A ray of hope:200 vultures sighted near China border

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/environment/flora-fauna/200-vultures-sig\

hted-near-China-border/articleshow/5066367.cms

 

200 vultures sighted near China border

Anand Bodh, TNN 29 September 2009, 12:34am IST

CHANDIGARH: At a time when the vulture population has all but disappeared -- 99%

of India's four crore vultures have died in the last three decades

-- the sighting of around 200 bearded variety of the species in Lahaul-Spiti,

Himachal Pradesh, comes as a ray of hope for wildlife enthusiasts.

 

Around 200 of these vultures are spread around the rocky mountains of cold

desert area that includes some parts of China.

 

Indian vultures have all but vanished because of feeding on dead livestock that

were administered an anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac that increased the

working life of cattle by reducing their joint pain.

 

According to scientists, the Lammergeiers or bearded vultures, breed in crags in

high mountains, laying one or two eggs in mid-winter that hatch at the beginning

of spring. The population is resident. In Himachal Pradesh, their population is

found in the Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts bordering China.

 

State chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Sanjeeva Pandey said there is a

larger presence of bearded vultures in higher areas because people here do not

give diclofenac to their cattle. The bearded vulture helps in keeping the

environment clean, he added.

 

Forest officials from Lahaul-Spiti said that higher reaches of Rohtang and

Kunzam passes have become home to bearded vultures, while vultures from China

are found in Lidong, Demul, Koumik, Kibber and Hikkim of Spiti valley.

 

The spotting of bearded vultures in such large number has raised visions of

saving the majestic bird at least in Himachal Pradesh that saw the tragic

disappearance of White Back vulture and King vulture from the lower parts of the

state.

 

Scientists at G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development,

Mohali, said the presence of vulture colony in the Western Himalayas is very

encouraging. ``A proper survey should be conducted to make plans for their

breeding and conservation,'' he said.

 

Pandey said that during a recent visit to Kibber village in Spiti, he came

across a small colony of bearded vultures.

 

``While the dwindling vulture population in lower parts of Himachal is a cause

of concern, their presence in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti gives us hope,'' he said.

 

The state wildlife department is planning to start a conservation and breeding

programme with the help of Bombay Natural History Society for breeding vultures

in lower Himachal Pradesh.

 

 

 

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