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How Tamil Nadu becoming safe zone for vultures?

Recently, the two-day synchronized census on vulture population was carried out in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Forest officials belonging to three state governments, NGO volunteers and environmentalists took part in the census. They have observed that there is an increase in the population of vultures particularly Tamil Nadu recorded highest number of nesting spots for vultures.

Tamil Nadu seems to be preferable nesting ground, for vultures, which are critically-endangered scavenging birds. In the recent census, the ground teams were able to identity that population of vultures has increased from 246 to 320 in the last two years.

That too Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve in Nilgiris housing 72 vultures, recorded the highest vulture population spots among other vulture nesting spots in the three states.

Diclofenac drug was used as pain killer for cattle. When vulture consumes the dead cattle which has traces of diclofenac, it would result in death of vultures. Though diclofenac was banned in 2006, it was illegally used for many years. But stringent implementation of the ban in the recent years has helped the vultures say environmentalists.

When I spoke to environmentalist Mohan Raj, he told me he spotted around 40 vultures in one place. ‘’Its was a morning..they came out from the nest. They were flying out and it was a beautiful sight. I could spot three species of vultures…I could spot 6 long billed vultures at one go.. it’s a rare sight.. to see all of them at one place,’’ he told me.  

Bharathidasan, one of the members of the state level committee for vulture conservation, told me the practice of leaving carcass for consumption of vultures has also partially solved the shortage of food for the birds. Bharathidasan is one of the founders of the NGO Arulagam. He is one of the pioneers to voice out for vultures in Tamil Nadu. 

‘’Vulture will not hunt any bird or animal. It is purely dependent on carcass of dead animals both wild and domesticated animals. We have to ensure the carcass is safe for consumption of vultures. In the health point of view, villagers tend to bury dead animals...it is against right to food for the vulture,’’ he said.