BNHS to Reintroduce Two Vulture Species in Assam

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), is set to reintroduce two critically endangered vulture species, Slender-billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) and White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis), in Assam.

Vulture 

• Vultures are one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live mostly in the tropics and subtropics.
• India is home to nine species of Vulture namely the Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon.

Importance of Vultures

• They serve as nature’s clean-up crew by feeding on the infected carcass which kills the Pathogens and breaks the chain of infections. 
• Vultures are critically important to the Parsi community as it leaves its dead bodies atop the Towers of Silence to be consumed by vultures. 

Major Threats

• Use of  toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Diclofenac, Lack of Nesting Trees, Electrocution by power lines, Food Dearth and Contaminated Food, Pesticide poisoning etc. threaten vultures across the country.
  • BNHS has been encouraging veterinarians to use vulture-safe alternatives like Meloxicam and Tolfenamic acid.
• India has lost 99 percent of the population of the three species, Oriental White-Backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture. 

Conservation Status

• Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed.
  • Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.
• IUCN Red List;
  • Critically Endangered: Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture.
  • Endangered: Egyptian Vulture.
  • Least Concerned: Eurasian Griffon.
  • Near Threatened: Himalayan, Bearded and Cinereous.

Source: TW