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Conservation Strategies for Vultures in Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve
After successfully initiating the process of creating Mukurthi National Park to conserve the Nilgiri Tahrs, Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association has set the ball rolling for the creation of a unique Sanctuary for the Critically Endangered Species, VULTURES in Nilgiris.
Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve known for its healthy population of Tigers, Asian Elephants, Wild Dogs, Indian Gaurs, Nilgiri Tahrs Sambar and Spotted Deers is also a home for good number of Vultures.
Of the nine types of Vultures which exist in India, there are four species in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. All these four, White Rumped Vulture, Long Billed Vulture, King Vulture (or) Read Headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture have been documented in the forests of Nilgiris Eastern Ghats landscape which comprises of Sigur and Moyar Valleys.
In a well attended meeting with representations from Government officials, NWEA activists, NGO representatives and Civil Society members a proposal was ignited to notify Sigur and adjoining forest areas as a Wildlife Sanctuary for Vultures.
Senior forest officials of Tamil Nadu Forest Department namely Dr. Raghuram Singh, Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, V.T.Kandasamy, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, District Forest Officers S.Ramasubramaniam ( Nilgiris North), Anurag Mishra ( Nilgiris South), Dipak Bhilge ( Gudalur) and another IFS officer Srinivasa Reddy, Director, Hill Area Development Program ( HADP), Nilgiris graced this meeting with their presence.
Forest Department's Wildlife Veterinerians Dr. Kalaivanan ( Mudumalai Tiger Reserve) and Dr. Anbazhagan ( Masinagudi), NWEA member and a Veterenerian in Gudalur Dr. Sugumaran too attended and detailed the gathering with valid inputs on Vulture Conservation. Principal Scientist from Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore ( SACON) Dr.Muralidharan.S presented his studies on Eco toxicology with reference to Vultures.
Following are some of the imported observations noted for further follow -up. These points are explained just for the knowledge of NWEA members and nature enthusiasts. The official presentation to the Government will be made by the Nilgiris North and Gudalur DFO's which are getting drafted.
1. Initiate steps to declare Sigur forests as a Wildlife Sanctuary for Vultures.
2. Working beyond boundaries approach for conservation since the wildlife exists in all three states of NBR.
3. Increase people's participation by conducting more awareness programs.
4. Proper disposal of carcass - Information to be passed on from District Collector to Panchayat heads.
5.Conducting health camps to promote alternative medicines for Diclofenac which is known to have affected Vultures and distributing them at a subsidised cost to farmers with financial assistance from HADP.
6. Suggesting a ban on the sale of 30 ml pack of Diclofenac which are diverted to cattle treatment.
7. Frequent monitoring of Vultures with Vulture Watchers and conducting exclusive Vulture Estimates.
8. Prepare a field guide on Vultures in Tamil.
9. Promote conservation by providing alternate livelihood to the affected people. NGO's to join this initiative.
10. Compensating Cattle kill to farmers.
11. Improving the habitat with Vulture friendly flora.
12. Illegal transit of non descript cattle (sent for slaughter houses) to be checked by taking efforts at a bigger level.
13. Proceedings of the Workshop with Abstracts presented by resource persons to be published by NWEA.
This workshop which was conducted in the HADP Hall, Ooty on November 2, 2011 had 96 registered participants which included representatives from Academics, Research, NGO's, Civil society members and Forest Officials. Officers and NGO's from the Karnataka and Kerala too participated and shared their thoughts.
Special mementoes and Certificates were given to the Forest Department Staff who succesfully arrested a team of poachers and recovered tuskers from them.
Over 40 members of NWEA including office bearers Vijay.K ( Hon. Secretary), Vasu.T ( Hon. Vice President), Seenivasagan ( Hon. Treasurer), Mohanraj.N, Jayachandran.S, Jayaprakash.C.R, Sivakumar.A, Sadig Ali, Madhusudanan, Muruganandam (all Executive Committee members) participated in this workshop which was jointly conducted with the Forest Division of Nilgiris North.
Note: For the first time in recent years, information about a workshop was passed on to the members by phones and emails. This page received 300 hits even before the event inauguration. After 8 days it has crossed 800 hits.
Comments and Suggestions from the members are welcome.
Report filed by Jayaprkash.C.R.
Feedback
1. Congratulations for organising this important event. It should result in many important outcomes.
With best wishes
Dr. Priya Davidar
Professor
Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Pondicherry University
India 605014
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2. I am glad to you for sharing the information.Felt good about the new proposal.
Regards
Dr.Naveen Jayaram
Junior resident
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences,
Hosur road, Bangalore- 560029.
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3. Good job Sir, Thank You for the news.
I have incorporated some facts in your report and a reference to it in my article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigur_Plateau
"Of the nine species of Vultures which exist in India, the critically endangered White-rumped Vulture, Long-billed Vulture and King Vulture (or) Red-headed Vulture and the endangered Egyptian Vulture have been documented in the forests of Nilgiris Eastern Ghats landscape comprised of the Sigur and Moyar Valleys. A proposal has been initiated to notify Sigur and adjoining forest areas as a Wildlife Sanctuary for Vultures.[7]"
Please keep me informed regarding the development of this proposal.
Regards,
Marcus Sherman, Save Western Ghats, Goa.
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4. Dear Sir,
Thanks a lot for passing on the recommendatiom on vultuture conservation in the Nilgiris. As a student of Dr Salim ali I chased Black and Flycatcher in Oty, coonoor, kotagiri, governor shola from 1974 to 1976. Later on Dr Priya joined dr salim sir. In those days vultures were quite common in Maasanagudi whre Priya had a jungle hoiuse called Chital Walk. I hope during ensuing ICIO in SACON further stronger resolution be initiated for SAARC cointry wide Vulture conservatiom.
Hope to see u there.
Best wishes,
Reza kjan
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5. Great efforts of your team Mr Jayaprakash ji.
Our wishes for the successful implementations of the recommendations.......
Regards
Satya Prakash Mehra, Ph. D.
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6. Dear Sir,
I'm glad to know that you are involving in vulture conservation activities in Nilgiris. My group at CCMB is working on monitoring and identification for the cause of decline of vultures in Andhra Pradesh (find a paper attached herewith). We found that it is because of non-availability food, rather diclofenac in the cattle carcass as observed in northern populations. I strongly believed and demonstrated that of non nonavailability of natural food such as carcasses of cattle, is the main reason decline vulture populations in South India as our farmers are not keeping their old cattle till their death and but selling to slaughter houses.
All the best for the efforts for conservation of vultures
With regards
Yours sincerely
G.Umapathy Ph.D
Senior scientist
Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES)
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)
Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500007, India
Phone +91-040-23447422 Fax 040-23447441
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7. Dear sir
Congratulations for organising a workshop for protecting vultures in Sigur and adjacent moyar valley hills of NBR.
Also I express my thanks for the steps and proposals taken for mainitaining a clean and hygienic environment, by making an awareness from distrct level to Panchayath in proper disposal of carcasses.
Dr. K. Seedikkoya
Associate Professor
PG Department of Zoology
M.E.S. Mampad College
Kerala
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8. Dear NWEA team,
Thank you very much for sending me the recommendations of the Vulture Conservation workshop held at Ooty.
I am very happy that such a workshop was held which has produced specific answers.
Warm regards,
Dr. Nanditha Krishna
Director
C. P. R. Environmental Education Centre
Chennai
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9. Dear NWEA team,
Thank You.
Dr.P.A.Azeez,
Director, SACON, Coimbatore - 641 108.
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10. An Excellent effort for Vulture conservation Mr. Jayprakash. I am also involved with Vulture conservation in Gujarat and we regularly carry out the Gyps population survey. (done in 2005, 2007 and 2010)
We have planned the next survey in 2012.
Keep the good work on...
Regards,
Virag R.Vyas
Senior Research Fellow, GEER Foundation, Gandhingar, Gujarat, INDIA.
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