Presence of vultures in at least half a dozen areas has been recorded for the first time by naturalists in the Nilgiris North Forest Division and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) during a two-day habitat identification and population estimation that concluded on Sunday.
A total of 26 groups were formed – 15 in the Nilgiris North Forest Division and 11 in the STR. The team included three members, including field staff from the Forest department. Segur, Singara, North Eastern Slopes of the Nilgiris, Ebbanadu, Sholur and Kodanadu in The Nilgiris North division and Koolithuraipatti, Geddesal, Kothadai, Kettavadi, Bellathur, Malliamman Durgam, Thimbam and Hasanur in the STR were the places where the teams conducted the exercise. Presence of three species of vultures was recorded in both STR and the Nilgiris North Forest division. This included Long-billed, White-backed and King vultures.
While all the three species were sighted In the Nilgiris North division, as many as 100 White-backed vultures were sighted in Ebbanadu.
A small number of 15 Long-billed vultures were sighted in the North Eastern Slopes and Jagulikadavu in Segur range. The presence of King Vulture was not recorded in large numbers in the Nilgiris North Forest division, said the authorities.
In the STR along the Moyar gorge, the Long-billed and White-backed vulture nests were recorded. The Long-billed vultures were sighted on inaccessible cliffs. Already, the authorities have recorded the three species of vultures feeding on a tiger kill in the STR, said a senior officer. Their range gets extended to Mudumalai and the neighbouring Bandipur tiger reserves, the officer added.
