Recovery of vulture population in roosting and scavenging areas of Bastar and Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, India

Chhattisgarh is home to seven of the nine vulture species in India. One reason for this high vulture diversity is the presence of large herds of bovines numbering over 11 million individuals (ratio of human to bovine population is approximately 0.38), from which carcasses are disposed off in the open for scavengers. The late 1990s saw large scale decimation of vulture population, and since then there have been few studies with no sighting estimates available. In this study, concurrent sighting records were collected from different locations of southern Chhattisgarh and corroborated to develop conservative sighting estimates for sympatric populations of Gyps bengalensis and Gyps indicus. We present the first report on population recovery, with an estimated 30–35 Gyps bengalensis & 20–25 Gyps indicus in/ around Rudraram of Bijapur and 18 Gyps bengalensis & five Gyps indicus at Jamguda village of Bastar. Krishna Swami Gutta hill is identified as a nesting-roosting habitat for both species, for which six scavenging areas were identified in Bastar and Bijapur districts. The human/bovine population ratio for Bastar is 0.4, similar to the state ratio, while in Bijapur the ratio is 1.07, which justifies considering Bijapur as a conservation refuge. The few vultures that survived the diclofenac catastrophe in wild habitats most likely consumed wildlife carcasses that sustained a residual population. In these areas, the age-old practise of disposing off dead domesticated bovines away from settlements near reserve forests may also have supported the recovery of vulture population.

Contrasting Trends in Abundance of Indian Vultures (Gyps indicus) Between Two Study Sites in Neighboring Indian States

Indian Vultures (Gyps indicus) are critically endangered, yet are poorly monitored. We analyze counts of breeding pairs of Indian Vultures in Central India, specifically the eastern portions of the Indian states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh over a period of 10 years and reveal the populations were on differing trajectories from 2007 to 2016. The difference between population levels of the study areas nearly doubled during our study, with the population in Rajasthan declining relative to Madhya Pradesh. Future research should examine potential drivers of population declines and establish a long-term monitoring program that informs current conservation strategies for Indian and other vultures across their range.

Seasonal Fluctuation in Thermoregulatory Behaviour of Long-Billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) by Wing Stretching at Southern Rajasthan, India

Long-billed vulture is warm-blooded and they regulate body temperature by solar radiation. Thermoregulatory behaviour plays an important role for organism survival and its fitness. It also plays a major role in removal of ectozoons, cleaning of body and feathers, elimination of sand particles, wing flexibility and is also helpful in long distance flight. Maximum thermoregulation time recorded in winter were (680±95.65) and minimum were (516.07 ±68.66) seconds in summer in per day. Maximum thermoregulation time’s record in winter was due to low environmental temperature, high humidity and low wind velocity. In winter maximum average temperature was (27.12±2.88°C) and minimum was (8.63±3.03°C), while thermoregulation time minimum recorded in summer due to high environmental temperature. In summer season maximum average temperature was recorded (39.34± 2.10°C) and minimum was (23.08±4.49°C). Thermoregulation is influenced by various ecological parameters like- temperature, rain, sunshine period, wind velocity and cloudy weather. Thermoregulatory times reduced when environmental temperature increased. In summer long billed vulture protect nestling from direct sunlight.

Vultures, their population status and some ecological aspects in an Indian stronghold

Indian vultures have important ecological and socio-economic functions and are increasingly studied, per their ecological role and recently, their catastrophic populations’ decline. However, there are few studies of vultures in central India, a vulture stronghold. The present paper examined the presence, distribution per landcover variation, roosting and nesting habits of vultures in this region. Both quantitative (total count) and qualitative (questionnaire survey) methods of research were applied. The hypotheses were that vulture presence is higher in forested areas, unaffected by agricultural development (excepting the Egyptian vulture); as well as that vultures are more likely to roost and nest in large trees and on cliffs in open landcover. Vulture species recorded in summer and winter counts were the Long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus, Scopoli, 1786), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus, Linnaeus, 1758), White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis, Gmelin, 1788), Eurasian Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus, Hablizl, 1783), Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus, Scopoli, 1786), Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus, Linnaeus, 1766) and Himalayan Griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis, Hume, 1869). Their average total abundance was of 7,028 individuals, maximum being Long-billed vulture (3,351) and minimum being Cinereous vulture (39). Thematic maps documented distributions in different agroclimatic regions and ecozones. Orography and forest structure influenced vulture presence, but human disturbance did not. Vulture protection, food monitoring and human-induced disturbances are manageable with critical, informed and flexible policies. These findings contribute to monitoring and management planning for vulture conservation in Central India and elsewhere.

A Preliminary Survey of Birds in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India

A preliminary survey of bird species and habitat in the Karmajhiri Range, Pench Tiger Reserve was conducted during March 2014 - May 2014. The aim of this study was assessment of avian population by addressing some ecological status such as faunal type, phenological traits, trophic status, occurence and protection status of birds species. 221 species of birds were recorded from study area. Out of 26 order in India 16 order of birds were presented in and around Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) which comprises 61 families. PTR provides habitat for three critically endangered species, namely White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis Gmelin, 1788), Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus Scopoli, 1786) and Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus Scopoli, 1786). Regarding species protected by Berne convention 34 species are listed in Appendix 2 (strickly protected fauna) and only one are represented in Appendix 3 (Protected fauna) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus Linnaeus, 1758). Based on the AEWA (African-Europian Migratory Waterbird Agreement) bird list, 18 bird species are noted in the study area. The dominance of Oriental faunal type provide information on the relationship of the surveyed avifauna to the biogeographical zones. We were recorded 28 biome restricted bird species. This assessment also supports and justifies its classification as an Important Bird Area “IBA” because of the importance and abundance of avian species. Its provide shelter and hosts to birds. To conserve birds species in tropical deciduous forest in PTR, it will be necessary to preserve large areas of contiguous forest and monitor the effect of Habitat fragmentation and other development activities in and around forest area will have impact on their foraging, breeding and subsequently their population. These scientific findings will help to evaluate the effectiveness of legislation and policies for bird protection and will under in future conservation action for birds and their habitats.