A high-tension power line being drawn through the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has been rerouted to save vultures from electrocution.
A vulture breeding site was recently found in the sanctuary during a recent survey, giving hope that the endangered bird can be brought back from the brink.
One of the major causes of bird deaths in India is electrocution when coming into contact with power lines. Teams from the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) traced the nesting and breeding site on the route of the transmission line being drawn between Jaipur and Gwalior.
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“Vultures today are declining in number exponentially. When we found an important breeding site of vultures at the sanctuary, we formed our recommendations that needed to be discussed with the Power Grid to save the bird,” V.B. Mathur, WII Director, told The Hindu .
On the directions of the National Board for Wildlife, the project recommendations were finalised at a recent meeting between officials of the Power Grid and the WII in New Delhi.
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“To allow for the safe take-off and landing of the birds on the cliff, and to reduce disturbance to the vultures, the meeting decided to realign the transmission lines away from the nesting sites by 225-275 metres,” Dr. Mathur said.
On the directions of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, recommendations were finalised on the restoration and conservation of the endangered Great Indian Bustard in the sanctuary.