Nature’s cleaners on the brink of extinction

Updated: July 29th, 2019, 21:38 IST

BHUBANESWAR: Vultures, once part of popular Odia culture, have become almost extinct from the face of the capital city and even from the state. Not really known for their aesthetics or hunting skills, vultures are knows as nature’s best scavengers. However, these birds along with a few other species, have gradually been pushed from the category of endangered to extinct due to rapid urbanization and loss of green habitat.

“There are three species of vultures found in India, Odisha has two of them. The first is black or king vulture, this specie is almost extinct everywhere in the country. The second is white-backed Bengal vulture which is known ‘Gidha’ or ‘Saguna’ in Odia. About 50 years ago these were found aplenty in Odisha, especially in rural areas. The third one is White Scavenger, also known as Pariah Kite. Unlike other vultures, this particular type feeds on other smaller birds and rodents,” explained Rabindra Samal, an ornithologist, here.

A report by Bird Life International a decade ago stated that about 14 out of 52 near threatened bird species listed for India are in Odisha. Among the critically endangered types, Oriental White-backed Vulture and Long-Billed Vulture topped the list. The data was recorded on their presence in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Sambalpur, North and South of Mahanadi and in Simlipal National Park.

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A very rare Vulture sighted in Ganjam District of Odisha

Sunday, March 06, 2016

Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Berhampur: A very rare species of Vulture, which is on the verge of extinction, The Egyptian Vulture was sighted this morning in Ganjam District of Odisha. Dr Jyoti Prasad Pattnaik, founder of Berhampur Birds, a self-trained bird enthusiast sighted this rare bird in the area of Bhetanai, while he was recording the movements of the endangered blackbucks in the region. It was a chance sighting and he was thrilled to witness a small group of about 4 such birds atop a small hill near the Banabila village.

While the bird was sighted and he immediately came to know that it was a vultures the locals informed that they have not seen a vulture for ages and that these birds may be a kind of Kites which are common in this region.

Number of vultures are going down day by day due to the use of pain killer drug Diclofenac in sick animals and these birds which survive on the carcases of the dead sick animals succumb to the ill effects of the drug.

This discovery of the bird ensures a healthy bio-habitat for such birds and there may be many more such birds in the region, which Dr Pattnaik informed, he would go back again to the place to discover.

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Rare Egyptian vultures sighted in Odisha

Rare Egyptian vultures have been spotted near Laxmipur in Chikiti forest range of Odisha's Ganjam district and the forest department intends to carry out a survey of the birds. 

"A survey should be conducted and their nesting site located," said honorary wildlife warden of Khurda Pityush P Mohapatra. 

A bird-watcher recently sighted 13 such birds and reported it to the divisional forest officer, Berhampur. 

Backing Mohapatra's view, DFO (Berhampur) S S Mishra said "The sight of vultures indicates a healthy and rich biodiversity of the area. We will soon launch a survey." 

The Berhampur forest division plans to submit a proposal to the wildlife wing of the forest department to take up a project to conserve the endangered species. 

The action plan will be prepared after a detailed survey, said Mishra. 

Locals have sighted these vultures at different places in the rainy season and say that they fed on fish and small animals. 

The number of vultures in south Asia, mainly in India and Nepal, has declined drastically over the last few years. 

Residues of poisonous veterinary drug in the animal carcasses are a major reason behind the trend, said Swaparna Rani Das, a zoologist. 

The government has already banned the drug, she added.

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