Scavenger birds come to life

A handful of Bejjur vultures have bred successfully, thanks to several conservation measures initiated by forest officials

A Scavenger Vulture chick perched on a rock.

In what is a significant conservation development, a handful of Bejjur vultures have bred successfully.

As many as five juvenile vultures have been added to the nine that exist in the Pala Rapu cliff, a typical vulture habitat located in the remote Murliguda forest beat of Kagaznagar forest division in Bejjur Revenue mandal in the district.

The isolation of the habitat, the only such habitat in Telangana, and some basic conservation measures initiated by forest officials soon after finding the small committee (flock) of Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) or the long-billed vulture in early summer last year has resulted in the success. This has brought appreciation for the officials, led by Kagaznagar Divisional Forest Officer M. Siva Prasad and Bejjur Forest Range Officer M. Ram Mohan.

“We have constantly been monitoring the progress at Pala Rapu thanks to the efforts of Deputy Range Officer S. Venugopal, Forest Section Officer J. Shravan Kumar and in-charge Beat Officer A. Laxmi. We could photograph every important development on the cliff including the mating of ‘God’s Own Incinerators’, as ornithologist Salim Ali called the vultures,” Mr. Ram Mohan said.

Forest officials undertook an extensive awareness programme in order to negate any risk to the existence of the scavenger birds. The awareness was aimed towards Gopal Mitra in the area and the local vet impressing upon them the need for declofenac to be used sparingly while treating sick cattle.

“Residual diclofenac in carcasses, the food of vultures, has been recognised as one of the main reasons for drastic fall in their population. We also tell people of the importance of the role a vulture plays in keeping the environment clean and safe,” the Gypsophil FRO revealed.

“We are awaiting government approval to initiate a conservation plan which includes establishment of a vulture restaurant for the supply of safe food to the birds manned by a couple of workers, deployment of a bird tracker at a base camp to be established close to the habitat,” said Mr. Siva Prasad. The conservation effort would mean an expenditure of Rs.40 lakh a year. “It will not be a problem once the government makes up its mind to protect this pride of Telangana,” observed a conservationist working in Adilabad.