The vultures, nature’s most efficient scavengers, are on the verge of extinction.  Nine species of vultures are recorded from the Indian subcontinent, of which, five belong to the genus Gyps while the others are monotypic. Historically, and until recently, the White-backed vulture Gyps bengalensis, Long-billed vulture Gyps indicus and Slender-billed Gyps tenuerostris vultures were by far the most populous species in India.  Over the last decade, however, there has been a drastic crash in the populations of these vultures over most parts of the country.  The population of the two species of wintering Gyps species (Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvous and Himalayan griffon, Gyps himalayensis) appears to have increased markedly in recent years.   None of the other four species of vultures found in India appear to be as much affected.

 

Rapid vulture population declines were first documented in a breeding colony of White-backed vulture in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, by the Bombay Natural History Society. Numbers of breeding pairs in the Park declined steadily through the late 1990s and by 2000 there were no breeding pairs left. Data on population changes over a wider area were obtained by repeating a road transects survey of raptor populations carried out across a large area of northern India in 1991 – 1993. Repeat coverage of transects in year 2000 indicated that the vulture declines extended across all of northern and central India and occurred for Long-billed vultures and Slender-billed vultures combined (these two species had not been distinguished from each other at that time) as well as for White-backed vultures.

 

The major ecological factors, which could cause a population crash, i.e. food and nest site availability, were not a problem.  A survey conducted in Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, in December 1999 revealed that approximately 2500 cattle die every month, providing about 2,00,000  kg of meat for scavengers. This quantity is enough to feed about 13,000 vultures. Also, there appeared to be no paucity of nest sites, as in June 1999 more than 4000 potential nest sites were estimated in the Keoladeo National Park.  Other plausible reasons for the decline in vulture population are the bioaccumulation of pesticides or an epidemic of infectious disease.  It was noticed in Bharatpur that most of the vultures appeared sick: they were often seen perched with the neck hanging limp. The vultures which showed these symptoms would invariably die in about a month from the day the symptom manifests.   While in this state of ill health, however, they continued to feed and became alert if disturbed.

 

(i)  Following the results from Keoladeo National Park, a Vulture Alert was sounded in November 1998 to alert the scientific community to the problem and to encourage further investigations.  This was distributed widely throughout India and internationally via the internet.  An updated Vulture Alert was similarly distributed in August 1999.

 

(ii)  On 6th August 1999, a meeting was organised at BNHS, Mumbai, inviting Indian vulture experts, bird watchers, wildlife veterinarians and decision makers. There was representation from premier conservation organisations including Wildlife Institute of India, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, World Wide Fund for Nature-India and Centre for Wildlife and Ornithology, Aligarh.  This meeting, held in Mumbai, was convened to solicit opinions on the results from Bharatpur and to find out if similar problems had been noticed elsewhere.  There was a near-unanimous opinion that vultures had declined across India and it was resolved to conduct population surveys of vultures in areas of the country where historical numbers were known.  It was also decided that permission should be sought to capture sick vultures for observation in captivity by wildlife veterinarians.

 

(iii) International support for this investigation was sought from Birdlife International partner, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), U.K.  As a result, Dr. Gidona Goodman, a wildlife veterinarian from the Zoological Society of London, visited Bharatpur in September 1999 to give advice on disease investigations and captive husbandry.

(iv)      Between October and December 1999, three vulture carcasses were submitted for veterinary investigation (one to Mathura Veterinary College and two to the Wildlife Health Co-operative, Northern Region, at Hisar Veterinary College). Visceral gout was found to be cause of mortality.

 

(v)  In December 1999, additional assistance was offered with the vulture investigations from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, who were funding on-going raptor projects at the BNHS.  The USFWS sent Mr. Peter Bloom, an International Authority in trapping raptors specially vultures for assisting in trapping and radio telemetry studies. Dr. David Ferguson provided additional funding for radio telemetry and vulture trapping and helped highlight the vulture problem, internationally.

 

(vi)   In February 2000, again as a result of international assistance by the RSPB, Dr. Andrew Cunningham, the wildlife pathologist at the Zoological Society of London, visited Bharatpur and Hisar Veterinary College to review progress and to advice on future investigations.  During his visit, Dr. Cunningham supervised a post mortem examination on a vulture carcass.  Following this, the BNHS submitted a wide range of tissue samples to a number of laboratories in India, including Hisar Veterinary College, the Enterovirus Research Institute of ICMR, Mumbai, and the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) of Venkateshwara Hatcheries Ltd., Pune.

 

(vii) On 24th February, second meeting was held in Mumbai to discuss the vulture decline.  In addition to experts from across India, this meeting was attended by Dr. Cunningham and Mr. Pete Wood from the RSPB.  At this meeting, further evidence for vulture decline throughout the Indian subcontinent was presented, as were Dr. Cunningham’s preliminary findings that the decline appeared to be due to an infectious disease, most probably one caused by a virus. It was unanimously decided in the meeting that an international seminar should be held on the vulture situation in India to further highlight this problem and also to seek national and international help in finding the cause of vulture decline. The BNHS was also urged to get in touch with the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC), Pune, a premiere institute in avian disease investigation, to explore the possibility of getting help in vulture disease investigation.

 

viii.  The Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory at Pune readily accepted to help BNHS in vulture disease investigation. This modern lab is backed by an industrial group and does not have to face the resource crunch, unlike other modern government labs. The BNHS and PDRC worked in tandem in finding the cause of mortality in vultures.

 

(ix)   In March 2000, the BNHS supplied tissues from the vultures that had been examined post mortem to Dr. Muralidharan of Salim Ali Center for Natural History and Ornithology (SACON) at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and Dr. A. M. Bhagwat (EC Member, BNHS) of C. B. Patel Research Centre for toxicological studies, Mumbai.  The findings from these studies indicated that chemical contaminants, such as pesticides, were not implicated in the vulture declines.

 

(x)  The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India funded BNHS to carry out repeat vulture population surveys across the country. From March to June 2000, the BNHS carried out vulture population surveys in 13 national parks or sanctuaries and along multiple stretches of highways throughout India.    At all sites, only low numbers of (or in some cases no) vultures were found. These results indicated that there has been a catastrophic decline in the vulture population all over the country. The surveys revealed an alarming, 90% decline in the population of vultures. In a number of places including certain best known protected areas of the country such as  Corbett, Keoladeo, Gir, Wild Ass, Navegaon and Similipal National Parks, Buxa Tiger Reserve and Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary there was a complete wipe out of Gyps species of vultures.

 

(xi)  The MOEF organized a meeting and Bombay Natural History Society presented details about the vulture decline all over the country. The meeting was specially called by Mr. Vishawanath Anand, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, on 31 July to discuss the alarming decline in vulture population. In the meeting it was decided that the ministry would write to all the state governments to issue permission to BNHS to trap sick vultures for disease investigations. The major problem in disease investigation had been getting freshly dead vultures in wild for sample collection. Usually one comes across a vulture carcass when it is two or three days old and is not very useful in disease investigation. 

 

(xii)  The MOEF sponsored an International Seminar on Vulture Situation in India from 18-20 September, 2000. The meeting was held at Conference Hall of WWF-India, New Delhi. The meeting was attended by 55 experts including 10 overseas experts. 

 

The International Seminar was inaugurated by Chief Guest Mr. C. P. Oberoi, IFS, Inspector General of Forests, Government of India.

 

The major recommendations of the seminar were:

 

1. Grant permission for and support the collection of dead, sick and healthy vultures for the purpose of taking samples for analysis.

 

2. Grant permission for and support the establishment of a captive population of vultures as insurance against possible extinction and as a resource for research and potential captive breeding.

 

(xiii)   Subsequent to the meeting, the MOEF granted permission to BNHS to set up the first Vulture Care Centre, at Pinjore. The centre was set up in collaboration with the Haryana Forest Department and was funded by the Darwin Initiative for the survival of the species, U.K.  The government swiftly granted permission to utilize 1 acre of land for setting up the centre and the work on the centre started in September 2001. The first sick vulture arrived in the centre in April 2002.

 

(xiv) Novel herpes virus isolated from sick vultures

The results of the pathological studies on vultures suggested the presence of an infectious disease, probably of viral origin, during the year 2003. A herpes virus was isolated and sequenced from affected vultures by the PDRC and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory. This virus was shown to be present in tissues from vulture carcasses collected across India and was found at the highest concentrations in and around lesions in the central nervous system. However, it was not clear whether the lesions were sufficient to cause morbidity or death or whether the presence of this virus was associated with any of the pathological signs observed in birds found dead during the rapid population decline, especially visceral gout.

 

(xv) Vulture Recovery Plan  

Based on the information available on causes of vulture mortality and declines, a Vulture Recovery Plan was released by Mr. S. C. Dhesi, IAS, Principal Secretary and Finance Commissioner, Forests, Government of Haryana, in presence of Mr. Bist, IFS, Inspector General Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India on 16^th February 2004. The recovery plan   discusses the various aspects of crash in vulture populations in South Asia and suggests measures for the recovery of the vulture populations.   The major recommendations of the plan were prepared and approved by top forest officers of various states, scientists of the IUCN Species Specialist Group, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Zoological Society of London, The Peregrine Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bombay Natural History Society, Zoological Survey of India, Wildlife Institute of India and Central Zoo Authority, during the recovery plan workshop.

 

Important recommendations of the plan are:

(xvi)    Diclofenac- a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory veterinary drug implicated in vulture declines

In January 2004, Dr. Lindsey Oaks, of Washington State University, working with the Peregrine Fund in Pakistan published his findings in Nature, a prestigious journal for pioneering research. The study strongly implicated diclofenac, a commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory veterinary drug, in vulture declines. He found strong positive correlation between the presence of gout and presence of diclofenac in vulture tissues.  Evidence suggested that the situation was broadly similar in India.

 

The teams of Bombay Natural History Society carried out the repeat annual survey at 18 protected areas across the country. Soon after the separate identity of Long-billed vultures and Slender-billed vultures was recognized in 2001, surveys repeated in 2002 and 2003 separated counts of these two species. The minimum decline in White-backed vulture numbers in India during the period 1992-2003 was 99.7% and 97.4% for Long-billed/Slender-billed.  This corresponds with a minimum estimated rate of decline of 34% per year for White-backed vultures and 27% per year for the Long-billed/Slender-billed group. In the most recent census, there is evidence that the rate of declines may be increasing with a measured 81% decline between 2002 and 2003 in White-backed vultures, a 59% decline in Long-billed vultures, and a 47% decline for Slender-billed vultures.

 

The Gyps vultures nesting colonies were identified and were monitored in different parts of the country to get an idea of the present trend in the population. A total of six White-backed, five Long-billed, and one Slender-billed nesting colonies were monitored. The colonies are monitored both by the vulture project biologists and BNHS member volunteers. These member volunteers were provided training in monitoring nesting colonies and for uniformity in data gathering in a workshop held in January 2002.

 

The nesting colonies being monitored by Society are located at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, Badisher in  Haryana, Wynad in  Kerala, Chiplun in Maharashtra, Ahmedabad and Kutch in  Gujarat,  for White-backed vultures. Colonies at Jodhpur and Sariska in Rajasthan, Panna and Bandhavgarh in  Madhya Pradesh and Nasik in  Maharashtra are monitored for Long-billed vultures and one nesting colony of Slender-billed vulture located at Majhauli in Assam. Out of these, the following  colonies are being monitored by volunteers. Mr. B. Raha and Mr. Vishwas Katdare are monitoring the Long-billed and White-backed vulture colonies in  Nasik and Chiplun in Maharashtra. Mr. Kartik Shastri and Mr. Shantilal Varu are monitoring the White-backed vulture colonies at Ahmedabad & Kutch in Gujarat. Mr. Sashi Kumar is monitoring the White-backed vulture colonies at  Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary in  Kerala. Mr. Dilsher Khan is monitoring Long-billed vulture colonies in Madhya Pradesh. Mr. Mridu Paban Phukan is monitoring the Slender-billed vulture colonyies at Majhauli in Assam.

 

It was observed that the low nesting success and high adult and post fledgling mortality causes low recruitment in the population. The high adult and post-fledgling mortality in the breeding population could cause crash in vulture population.

 

The Long-billed colony at Bayana is being continuously monitored since the last five years.

There has been a sharp decline in the number of nesting pairs in the colony. The number of nesting pairs reduced from 72 pairs  during 2000-2001 to only 18 pairs in 2005-06. Very low nesting success was recorded during all the years. The post juvenile mortality was unusually high and in some years it was 100%. The average adult mortality of 10% was recorded in the colony. 

 

Winter surveys were carried out in Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and Haryana to find out the status of wintering Gyps vultures, Himalayan Griffon and Eurasian Griffons. The surveys were carried out in protected areas, outside protected areas, along highways and at carcass dumps.

 

There appears to be a spurt in the population of Himalayan Griffon in most of the areas and of Eurasian Griffon in western India. Very low population of resident Gyps were recorded.

 

To suggest an alternative, safety testing of the drug Meloxicam on the White-backed and Long-billed vultures and other scavenging birds which feed along with vultures was carried out at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore.

 

The testing was carried out in three phases. The recommended doses of drug were given orally (by gavage) to White-backed and Long-billed vultures during the first phase and to the four species of other scavenging birds during the second phase. The vultures were fed on the meat and fat of buffaloes which were treated with the recommended doses of Meloxicam during the third phase.

 

The team from Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzat Nagar, led by Dr. Swarup, Head of Medicine, carried out the testing. The blood samples were collected before giving the Meloxicam and also 48 hrs and 72 hrs after giving the Meloxicam.

 

There was no adverse reaction to the drug.  The vultures and other scavenging birds remained healthy and no clinical signs suggestive of toxicity were observed following administration of Meloxicam.  No statistical variation in hematological and biochemical parameters was observed in birds.

 

 

The conservation breeding of vultures became the most important objective of the project after the release of Vulture Recovery Plan in February 2004. The major recommendation of the plan was to set up at least three conservation breeding facilities in India immediately, and ultimately six across south Asia.

 

A simple deterministic model of a captive vulture population and the wild population eventually derived from it indicates that a breeding centre with 25 pairs would be capable of producing a derived wild population of 100 pairs about 10 years after the beginning of releases.  A minimum of 60 birds would be required to establish 25 pairs of each species at each breeding centre.  Releases would not begin until a minimum of 6 years had elapsed since the capture of the founding stocks (assuming that most of the founders are taken as nestlings or juveniles). To allow for mortality in captivity and unequal numbers of the sexes taken from the wild, it would be necessary to take about 60 birds of each species from the wild to initiate a centre which would eventually lead to the restoration of a single wild population of 100 pairs, 16 or more years later.

 

Ideally, six centres should be established in south Asia and at least four in India. Thus, six populations of each species and each captive population can provide enough birds to assure sustainable wild populations.  The suggested age-structure of the founder population should be 70-85% of known-age nestlings, 10-15% sub-adults, and rest adults so that most of the captive population is of known-age and are most likely to breed.

 

Based on the recommendation of the Vulture Recovery Plan, the Vulture Care Centre at Pinjore was expanded into a Conservation Breeding centre (VCBC) and it was decided to set up another centre at Raja Baht Khawa, West Bengal.

 

 

Situated at the base of the Shivalik ranges of Himalayan foot hills, the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, lies at the edge of Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, 8 km from Pinjore, off the Chandigarh-Shimla highway.

 

The Centre spreads over 5 acres of Haryana Forest department’s land in village Jodhpur near Pinjore.

 

A total of 116   vultures are housed at the centre. Of these, 45 are White-backed vultures, 55 Long-billed vultures, 14 Slender-billed vultures, and 2 Himalayan griffons.  All the vultures have a plastic ring, a wing tag, and a transponder for individual identification.

 

 

The centre consists of 16 nursery aviaries, 2 hospital aviaries, 2 quarantine aviaries, 1 holding aviary and 3 colony aviaries

 

This aviary of dimensions   10”x10”x8” has a capacity of rearing at least 4 nestlings at a time. They are designed to provide natural nest like environment for the successful rearing.

 

These aviaries house injured and sick birds. The centre has two hospital aviaries with capacity to hold 4 vultures in each. The aviaries are of dimensions 20”x20”x16”.

 

These aviaries house birds when they are brought to the centre. The birds are kept in these aviaries for 45 days before they are introduced in colony or holding aviaries. The centre has two quarantine aviaries with capacity to hold 4 vultures in each. The aviaries are of dimensions 20”x20”x16”.

 

The centre has one holding aviary of dimensions 60’x18’x40’ and capacity to hold 20 birds. This was also utilized as quarantine aviary earlier and any bird brought to the centre was first kept in this aviary and its health was monitored for a month. This aviary is now utilized to keep birds until they are shifted to colony aviaries.

 

v.    Colony aviaries

(There are 3 colony aviaries of dimensions 100”x40”x20” housing juveniles, adults and sub-adult birds of a species, after they have been quarantined for at least 45 days. These aviaries are large enough for the birds to do wing exercises by flying from one end to another and feed communally on carcasses, exactly as they do in the wild.

 

Temporary quarantine aviaries of dimensions 20’X20’X12’   were specially erected in village Nandpur, 5 kms from the centre, to house the vultures,  brought from Gujarat. The aviaries are made up  of iron pipes and netlon. They can be easily erected and pulled down within couple of days. Wooden perches wound with coir ropes and water troughs have been provided with. The area around the facility has a chain link fence to prevent trespassers and wild and domestic animals.

 

The centre has a fully equipped clinical pathology lab and hospital. It has a hematology room, biochemistry room, molecular room, freezer room, post-mortem room, monitoring room and store room. The hematology lab is equipped with microscopes, centrifuge, haemacue, blood mixer and other equipment necessary for blood analysis.

 

The bio-chemistry lab has a sophisticated bio-chemistry analyzer of Synermed company. This fully automatic machine analyses the blood chemistry in a matter of minutes. The uric acid, creatine and albumin levels are specially monitored.

 

The molecular lab has a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) machine, a UV reader, gel plate and associated equipment. The machine is used for sexing birds. The lab also has an ELISA reader and associated equipments to determine presence of diclofenac in tissues of cattle carcasses. A freezer room has  three -18°C freezers to store samples. A monitoring room has the CCTV camera monitors from where birds in the cages are regularly monitored. This allows undisturbed observations of bird behaviour.

 

c.  Electricity supply: A 3 phase electric connection has been installed to ensure good voltage and a 8KV generator for back up, in case of power failure.  An inverter has also been installed for uninterrupted power supply.

 

d. Perimeter fencing: A five feet high chain link perimeter fence  covers five acres of the area to keep away the stray animals and trespassers.

 

e. Close circuit television cameras: CCTV cameras have been installed in the three  colony aviaries. The monitor is kept in the laboratory. The camera can rotate almost 180º and can also move 90º up and down. The optical zoom is 28 X which gives a very clear picture of the birds wherever perched in the aviary.  Video recording is also possible.  The birds have got used to the CCTV and do not show any signs of nervousness, when operated. It is now possible to get quality information on behaviour, pairing, health condition, and nesting attempts without disturbing the birds.

 

 

The vultures are scavengers. They do not hunt but feed on dead animals to survive. At the VCBC, they are fed twice a week on goat meat. One vulture is fed 3 kilos of meat in a week which is equivalent to consuming 5 % of its body weight every day. The vultures are given freshly slaughtered goat carcasses, after removing the skin. The VCBC maintains its herd of goats to ensure that the vulture food is free of killer-drug diclofenac.

 

All aviaries have water troughs which can be filled and emptied from outside, without entering the aviary. Troughs are cleaned and fresh water is filled once a week. Care is taken that no algal growth develops in water.

 

Perches are positioned strategically and usually above human height. Coconut rope is wound around the perches for giving them a rough surface. This prevents foot problems in large birds.

 

The centre is located 15 km from the nearest big town of Alipurduar,  Jalpaiguri district,  North Bengal. It is just outside the Buxa National Park within the Rajabhatkhawa range.

 

The West Bengal government has given BNHS permissive possession of 5 acres of land for fifteen years to establish the centre. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Forest Department of West Bengal and Bombay Natural History Society for a 15 years collaboration for the Conservation Breeding Programme at Raja Baht Khawa.

 

In all, 16 vultures are housed at the centre, of which 12 are Slender-billed, 3 White-backed and 1 Himalayan Griffon.

 

The centre has three quarantine aviaries, one hospital aviary, two nursery aviaries, one display aviary and one colony aviary. The aviaries are designed on the same plan as have been done in Pinjore.

 

A building, for setting up a laboratory, has been given by the forest department. The building has been repaired and the laboratory has been set up.  Basic hematology lab, postmortem room and facility for storing samples have been developed.

 

Conflict with wildlife is a daily occurrence in this evergreen forest. To avoid this, the centre is fenced by six feet high perimeter energized fence which has eight strands of wire of which five are energized and have 11 KV current flowing through. The current does not harm the animal but just gives it a good thud which deters them from coming back. It runs on solar panels which are installed at the site.

 

The building allotted to the project for office and accommodation is an old forest rest house known as Tiger lodge. It is a two storied wooden building, standing on stilts, with four rooms, two on the ground floor and two on the first floor. There are covered balconies in front of the rooms overlooking the forest. Al the data generated is electronically stored in computer system at the office. The building houses a small library and accommodation for the centre manager and the veterinarian.

 

The second Vulture Conservation Breeding centre was formally inaugurated by Mr. Ananta Roy, Hon’ble Minister-in-charge, Department of Forests, Government of West Bengal on 7^th September, 2006, in presence of Hon’ble Mr. Simon Wilson, British Dy. High Commissioner, Eastern region. The Minister unveiled the plaque at the Centre and then he  along with the Dy. High Commissioner were given a guided tour of the centre. They also jointly inaugurated the first colony aviary of the centre by releasing a White-backed vulture each in the aviary. The Minister was highly appreciative of the efforts of BNHS and West Bengal forest department in establishing the centre. He thanked the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Darwin Initiative for funding. Mr. Wilson complimented the West Bengal Government for taking initiative in providing land and infrastructure support for establishing the centre. He said that all the attention of world conservation committee is on this centre for saving the critically endangered vultures from extinction. Mr. Wilson also released the newsletter, “Jatayu” of the project. Mr. Mondal, PCCF and Chief Wildlife warden, Mr. Ujjawal Bhattacharya, CCF (Wildlife) and other top forest officers from West Bengal were present at the inauguration. Mr. Chris Bowden, Director, Vulture Programmed represented the international partnership in vulture conservation breeding programme.

 

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Haryana Forest Department and Bombay Natural History Society for the long term collaboration in Vulture Conservation Breeding Program on 2^nd May 2006. The impressive signing ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s Committee room at Haryana Secretariat, Chandigarh. This demonstrates the importance that Haryana government accords to the vulture breeding programme. The signing ceremony was presided over by the Haryana Forest Minister Ms. Kiran Choudhury. The MOU was signed by Dr. R.D. Jakati, IFS, CWLW, on behalf of forest department and by Dr. A. R. Rahmani, Director, on behalf of BNHS  in the presence of the Forest Minister, Forest Secretary,  Mr, Jain, IAS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. J.P.L. Srivastava, IFS, Director, Animal Husbandry, Mr. Dangi and other top forest officers of Haryana. The Minister in her speech pledged support of Haryana Government to vulture conservation breeding program. The signing ceremony was recorded and was broadcasted on National Television, Doordarshan on the 12 May 2006.

 

Signing of the contract will ensure the smooth functioning of the centre and long-term commitment of Haryana Government and BNHS to vulture conservation breeding program.

 

 

Mr. Jim Knight, UK Minister for Rural development, Biodiversity and Landscapes, visited the Centre on 4^th February 2006 to understand vulture conservation efforts and get an idea about how the money, a grant of Darwin Initiative, was being spent.  He was accompanied by Mr. Jain, IAS, Principal Secretary, Forests, Haryana, Mr. J. P. L. Srivastava, IFS, PCCF, Dr. J. K. Rawat, APCCF, Mr. Rao Dhan Singh, Parliamentary Secretary of Haryana State Assembly, and various Forest Department and District level officials. He was received at the centre by Dr. Mark Avery, Director, Conservation, RSPB, Mr. Chris Bowden, Director, Vulture Programme, RSPB, and Dr. Asad R. Rahmani, Director, BNHS. He was given a guided tour of the centre. Mr. Knight also interacted with the Press and attended the lunch hosted by the Forest Department. He was very happy with his visit and commented during the press meet that the Darwin money was being well spent. He congratulated the Haryana forest department and Bombay Natural History Society for the excellent work being done at the centre.

 

Dr. Prodipto Ghosh, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and Mr. R.P.S. Katwal, IFS, Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife), MOEF, Govt. of India, visited the centre at Pinjore on 15^th January 2005. Dr. Ghosh and Mr. Katwal were first welcomed at the Van Bhavan, Panchkula by Mr. L.S.M. Salins, IAS,  Financial Commissioner and Principal   Secretary, Government of Haryana, Mr. J.P.L. Srivastava, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, other top forest officials of Haryana and Dr. A. R. Rahmani, Director, BNHS. An hour-long comprehensive presentation on the vulture situation in India was given by Dr. Vibhu Prakash, Principal Scientist, BNHS. The guests then visited the vulture conservation breeding centre. Dr. Prakash took the distinguished guests on a conducted tour of the centre. The vulture trapping techniques were demonstrated by the ace BNHS trapper Mr. Ali Hassan to the guests. The Secretary and the ADG were highly appreciative of this initiative of Haryana Forest Department and BNHS and congratulated them for the work being carried out.

 

During the months of March and April 2006, collection of nestlings was the major activity of the project. The nestlings were collected as the objective of the vulture recovery plan was that 70% of the breeding stock should be juveniles, as these are likely to be better breeders in the long term. Besides collection of nestlings, trapping of juveniles was also carried out during the year.

 

Twenty-six Long-billed nestlings were collected. Sixteen were collected from Maharashtra and  10 from Madhya Pradesh. Three nestlings of White-backed vultures were also collected. Two were collected from Chiplun, Maharashtra and one from Haryana.

 

Twenty-one White-backed vultures were brought to the centre from the Animal Health Foundation, a voluntary organization which looks after sick and dying, stray animals in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, during April 2006.

 

Every year during kite flying, which is part of   the festival ‘Uttrayan’, a good number of birds get serious injuries due to kite strings. Powdered glass is used to coat the kite strings to give it a razor sharp edge which enables to cut strings of other kites during a duel.  The flying birds get entangled in these strings and suffer serious injuries. Many birds suffer acute wing damage and are maimed for life, while many die of excessive bleeding.

 

The first Slender-billed, the most critically endangered vulture in the world and perhaps the most endangered raptor, was brought into captivity for the conservation breeding programme. In early December 2005, the vulture was caught at Dholla, Tinsukhia district, Assam and was flown to Delhi from Guwahati.  So far, 23 sub-adults and juvenile Slender-billed vultures have been caught and are being reared for the conservation breeding programmed at Pinjore and Raj Bhat Khawa. This is possibly the only population of Slender-billed’s in captivity the world over. According to our estimate less than 200 pairs survive in wild. The bird is endemic to south and south-east Asia.

 

Two pairs of White-backed vultures attempted breeding in colony aviary at VCBC, Pinjore. One pair nested on a concrete ledge while the other on a ledge of jute mat edged with wooden frames. One egg was laid in each of the nests.  The first egg was laid in the second week of December and the other in the second week of January. The pairing and courting had begun from September 2005. Both the sexes shared equal responsibilities in nest building and incubation. Nesting was however, not successful as one egg broke in the nest and the other egg failed to hatch in spite of an extended incubation period. This egg has been collected for processing.

 

Experience from other breeding programmes shows that first attempts are often unsuccessful, so the laying of two eggs should be seen as a positive sign of better things to come.

 

A vulture relief camp was organized in January 2006 to provide first aid care and surgery, as necessary, to vultures injured in kite flying during the celebration of “Uttrayan” festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The program was conducted in collaboration with Gujarat Forest Department and Animal Health Foundation, Gyaspur, Gujarat.

 

During the program, 9 injured White-backed vultures were successfully anaesthetized and survived surgery and post-operative care. Besides vultures, a number of Kites, a Peacock, a Painted stork, an Egyptian vulture and a Pintail were also operated upon. Many small birds with minor injuries recovered with first aid care. All the nine vultures have now been brought to Pinjore and are part of the breeding programme.

 

Mr. Pradeep Khanna, IFS, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat thanked BNHS and requested them to conduct this program every year.  Mr. Khanna very kindly gave us space to set up a temporary facility for treating birds at the Van Chetana Kendra.

 

 

Dr. Vibhu Prakash

Head, Vulture Conservation Breeding Program

 

Dr. Devojit Das

Centre Manager and Senior Veterinary Officer

 

Dr. Jeherul Islam

 

Mr. R. Venkitachalam

 

Dr. Percy Avari

 

Ms. Nikita Prakash

 

Sachin Ranade

 

Mr. S. Saravanan