Status of Vulture Population in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

An extensive survey was carried out to locate breeding colonies and nests of vultures in Rajasthan. This includes Long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus), White-backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) as breeding residents, Himalayan griffon (Gyps hymalayensis), Eurasian griffon (Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) were recorded as winter migrants. A total of 5,080 vultures of 7 different species were counted in 23 districts of Rajasthan. This includes 1,086 Long-billed vultures, 325 White-backed vultures, 84 Red-headed vultures, 2,413 Egyptian vultures and 1,172 migratory vultures i.e. Himalayan griffon, Eurasian griffon and Cinereous vulture. Many serious threats to these vultures were recorded during the study other then 'diclofenac', like habitat loss, predation by dogs, hunting and disturbances, kite flying, scarcity of food and water, weather conditions, miss fledgling, change in land use practices, road accidents and electrocution. Therefore strong in-situ vulture conservation programmme is equally required with the present ex-situ conservation programmes.