Indian Vultures | UPSC |

Indian Vultures | UPSC | Why In The News ?

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025

Indian Vultures | UPSC |

About Vultures In India :

  • Vultures are sociable creatures and are often seen as a collective unit. 
  • Out of 23 species of vultures in the world, nine are found in India.
  • The preferred habitats of the Vulture are deserts, savannas and grassland near a water source. 
  • They soar in circles high above the Earth’s surface. They use the rising air currents to maintain their elevation.
  • It also inhabits open mountain ranges up to 3,000 metres above sea level.
  • Vultures are widely distributed across The World. 
  • They are absent from Australia and most oceanic islands.
  • They soar in circles high above the Earth’s surface. 
  • They use the rising air currents to maintain their elevation.
  • Bald head and sometimes bald throat (help in regulating their body temperature)

Conservation Status: Indian Vultures | UPSC | 

 

 

IUCN Status

  • White rumped vulture (Critically Endangered)
  • Slender billed vulture (Critically Endangered)
  • Long billed vulture (Critically Endangered)
  • Red headed vulture (Critically Endangered)
  • Egyptian vulture (Endangered)
  • Himalayan Griffon (Near Threatened)
  • Cinereous vulture (Near Threatened)
  • Bearded vulture (Near Threatened)
  • Griffon Vulture (Least Concern).
CITES
  • Appendix II
Wildlife Protection Act
  • Schedule I

Conservation Initiatives By Government Of India :

The National Board for Wildlife(NBWL) has approved an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025. Key highlights of the plan include,

  • Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will get a vulture conservation and breeding centre.
  • Establishment of at least one vulture-safe zone in each state for the conservation of the remnant populations in that state.
  • A system to automatically remove a drug from veterinary use if it is found to be toxic to vultures with the help of the Drugs Controller General of India.
  • Coordinated nation-wide vulture counting involving forest departments, the Bombay Natural History Society, research institutes, nonprofits and members of the public. This would be for getting a more accurate estimate of the size of vulture populations in the country.
  • A database on emerging threats to vulture conservation including collision and electrocution, unintentional poisoning.

Establishment of four rescue centres, in 

  • Pinjore (Haryana)
  • Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
  • Guwahati (Assam)
  • Hyderabad (Telangana) 

There are currently no dedicated rescue centres for treating vultures.

Read Also : Species In News 

Source : The Hindu, Indian Express, IUCN

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