Telangana’s endangered vultures migrate to Maharashtra

The long-billed vultures, which were earlier staying at Palarapu Guttalu at the confluence of Peddavagu and Pranahita have migrated to a vulture sanctuary in Maharashtra in search of food

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Endangered long-billed Indian Vultures (Gyps indicus) appear to be no more interested in staying in a vulture colony at Palarapu Cliff near Nandigaon village in Penchikalpet mandal.

A colony of 10 long-billed vultures was discovered by forest officials at Palarapu Guttalu (cliffs) located at the confluence of Peddavagu and Pranahita in 2013. A vulture conservation project, funded by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), began in January 2015. Accordingly, a field biologist and five bird trackers were appointed. About 20 adult birds and 10 chicks used to inhabit the colony till 2022.

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However, the population of the vultures has dwindled to a trickle over a period of time. They are not staying in the colony for the last few months. They have migrated to a vulture sanctuary in Kamalapur of Gadchiroli district in the neighbouring Maharashtra, reportedly because they found ‘extra’ food served by officials there.

“Two pairs of the vultures were sighted at the colony here two weeks ago. They are visiting the sanctuary in Kamalapur and returning here at regular intervals. Steps will be taken to ensure that they do not have go anywhere else in search of food,” Kagaznagar Forest Division officer Sushanth Sukhdir told ‘Telangana Today.’

Forest officials said they would visit the sanctuary in Kamalapur and find out their measures to effectively conserve the birds soon. They are also planning to convene an inter-State meeting with officials of both Telangana and Maharashtra to discuss ways to protect the birds. They claimed that they were already raising awareness among villagers over the benefits of vultures in the environment.

Vultures’ role in ecosystem

Vultures play an important role in the ecosystem by consuming decomposed carcasses in the wild as well as inhabited areas. They can prevent microbial growth due to which some epidemics break out in the forests indirectly affecting humans. However, their population has drastically declined due to consumption of bodies of domesticated animals which were given pain killers containing Diclofenac.

The vultures breed mainly in hilly areas in central and south India. They are listed under the ‘critically endangered’ category by the International union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).