Protecting the last six long-billed vultures in inland south India has become a challenge for the Forest Department even in a protected vulture sanctuary in Ramanagaram.
With rampant trespassing in 346.14 hectares in and around Ramadevara Betta — which became the country’s second vulture sanctuary in January 2012 — the department has now decided to fix a fee to enter the park.
According to ornithologists and wildlife experts, in the absence of an entry fee, the haven for the endangered species had become an open ground for miscreants. Recently, forest officials arrested two persons for allegedly attempting to harm the vultures. A similar attempt was recorded last October.
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Ravishankar, Division Forest Officer, Ramanagaram, told
Apart from this, plans include building watchtowers to allow wildlife enthusiasts to have a glimpse of overhead circling and landing of vultures, besides developing an information centre which, apart from mentioning dos and don’ts in the sanctuary, will also explain the behavioural pattern of vultures.
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Long-billed vultures made Ramadevara Betta their home as the crevices of the tall granite hills — which are among the world’s oldest granite outcrops — are suitable for their mating and breeding activities, he said.
Shivananjaiah, environmentalist, who was part of the movement to make the area a sanctuary, recalled that there were hundreds of long-billed vultures a few decades ago. Their habitat was disturbed during the shooting of the iconic Bollywood blockbuster ‘Sholay’ in the 70s and Hollywood classic ‘Passage to India’ in the 80s. “Now their number has dwindled to just six,” he said.
Though they returned in later years, their numbers did not increase owing to scarcity of food, water and increase in environment pollution, Mr. Shivananjaiah said.