Conservation and Breeding Ecology of Critically Endangered Indian ...

Conservation and Breeding Ecology of Critically Endangered

Indian long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) at Palarapu cliff

Telangana Forest Department January-2018

Conservation and Breeding Ecology of Critically Endangered Indian long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) at Palarapu cliff… Monthly report for the month of January, 2018

Introduction The Indian long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) is a typical vulture, with bald head, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It is an avian natural scavenger. Out of nine species of vultures, the population of three Gyps species- White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) and Indian long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) in the wild has declined by 99% drastically over the past decade. The Gyps vultures’ population declined in India by 97% and by 92% in Pakistan. The widespread usage of Diclofenac drug led to the rapid population decline. Due to this, all the three vulture species were listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN, the World Conservation Union in 2013 (Bird Life International, 2013). And also it has listed in Schedule I species of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Massive decline in 1996, greater than 97 % declined. Only the total 30000 mature individuals are exiting in the wild.

Vulture habitat-Palarapu cliff Breeding colony of Indian long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) is situated on the southern face of 80-90 meter high elevated rock cliff ( 108 meter total height of the cliff) , named “Palarapu cliff” , in the Bejjur Reserved Forest nearby the Nandigaon village at the confluence of Peddavaagu stream and Pranahita river. This habitat’s geographical coordinates are 19o21’29’’8 N latitude and 79o91’38’’3 E longitude of Nandigaon beat, Kammargaon section of Penchikalpet range of Kaghaznagar division, Telangana state. It is located near to the border of Telangana and Maharashtra states. East side of this habitat has agriculture fields which extend up to Pranahita River, South side is Peddavagu and North and West parts are included in the Bejjur Reserved Forest. The vegetation is Southern tropical dry deciduous forests; especially this habitat is dominated by Indian Black wood (Hardwikkia binata).

Panoramic view of Palarapu cliff, the vulture habitat

2 |Save vulture from brink of extinction

In the initial of “Conservation of Indian long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) project” by Telangana Forest Department at this site, only 9 individuals found, this population is grown up to 26 individuals in 2015, 30 individuals in 2016, 32 individuals in 2017 have been recorded. Current breeding season has been monitoring since first week of November.

Breeding biology of vulture They are long-lived birds with a life span of up to 30 years recorded in captivity. They mature slowly too and start to breed only at the age of six or seven years. Genus Gyps, species breeds in loose colonies on trees or cliffs where twig nests are made. Gyps vultures lay only one egg in a clutch; two eggs in a clutch occasionally recorded in White-rumped vultures; the incubation period is 45 to 55 days and the young birds fledge when they are about three to four months old.

Importance of the species Vultures are an important component of the ecosystem performing the role as scavengers by consuming dead and decaying animal carcasses, thereby keeping the environment clean and healthy. Vultures are known to feed on rotting carcasses of ungulates, which may have died due to deadly diseases like Anthrax, Foot-andmouth disease etc. A flock of vultures can consume a huge carcass within a half an hour and left over will be the bones, hooves and horns.

Methodology One ‘machan’ was erected on beside river bank, from this point we have being observed the nesting site using Nikon (12x-50mm) binocular in the day time. In the initial of breeding season the all nests have been marked and observing.

Breeding colony of Indian long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) at Palarapu cliff


Observations & Results Nests were observed on a steep-sided cliff, located on the southern face of the Palarapu cliff. The nests were constructed about 80-90 m from the ground and were quite inaccessible to humans either from the ground level or from the top of the cliff. The total number of nests is eight and one roosting site marked, being monitoring in daily during the daytime. In the first week of December in all nests, eggs were laid. The continuous presence of parent birds in the nests is considered that eggs were laid. The both male and female parent birds are involved incubation is observed in all nest. The total 24 birds, includes 8 breeding pairs, a non-breeding pair, 2 immature birds and 4 newborn chicks were observed and recorded last week of January. The hatching of vulture eggs at this habitat is too difficult, because of inaccessibility to sight from the machan, during second week of January two nests were observed from 95 meter elevation (high elevation from nesting site), from that point two nests only visible i.e. first nest and last nest, the both nests have chicks was observed. And other two chicks are observed in 2nd and 4th nests respectively, while parent birds provisioning flesh to chicks is only time to observe the chicks in the nests. Table: Nests of Indian long-billed vultures at Palarapu cliff Breeding season- 2017-18 MonthDecember 2017

First nest

Below Branc h nest

Brick nest

Near centre

1

2

3

4

No. of birds

Breeding Pair with chick


Nonbreeding Pair


Below honey bee hive 5

At black spot

Breeding Pair

Breeding Pair

6

Below Hardwikkia left side 7

Below Hardwikkia right side 8

Breeding Pair

Breeding Pair

Last nest

Total no. of birds

9 Breeding Pair with chick

Agonistic behavior Agonistic behavior is commonly observed in animals, it occurs when the species shared same kind of resources such as food, shelter and mate. Moreover this behavior is usually seen between the same or different species. We observed agonistic intra specific interactions of Indian long-billed Vulture during breeding season at Palarapu cliff. We were recording breeding activity of Indian long-billed Vulture and noticed individuals incubating the eggs. About--900hr one of breeding pair was in nest incubating the eggs suddenly a non-breeding individual came close the nest and disturbed the breeding individual. Soon after this, the breeding pair showed aggressive interaction with intrudes and driven away from the nest. (See image below)


26 birds

Image: Agonistic intra specific interactions of Indian long-billed Vulture Chicks of Indian log-billed vulture at Palarapu cliff, breeding season 2017-18

First nest-vulture feeding to its chick

Centre nest-vulture feeding to its chick

Last nest-Vulture with chick


WORKSHOP ON “SECURING

INDIA (SVPSI)” -

8th

&

9th

VULTURE POPULATION IN SOUTHERN

January, 2018

The purpose of this workshop is jointly discuss and recommend a centralized action plan with viable management solutions and to encourage and magnify awareness programs initiated in each State to secure the country's wild viable vulture populations.

Aim: Securing vulture population in Southern India Objectives  To share population estimations, research findings, nesting status, conservation threats and management implications on vultures of five states in southern India  To discuss the issues and solutions  To formulate holistic and centralized action plan for securing wild viable vulture population in southern India. The two days work shop on “Securing vulture population in Southern India” is organized by Govt. Arts College, Udhagamadalam, supported by Raptor Research Conservation Foundation. For this work shop the Forest department official, Researchers and NGO’s and students from five states of Southern India. The Indian long-billed vulture’s population is distributed in three states of Southern India, which are Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Among these Palarapu cliff, Telangana has highest population i.e. 32 individuals than other two states Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have 8 and 3 individuals respectively recorded. I presented poster presentations entitled “Conservation of Long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) at Palarapu cliff, Telangana” on the occasion of the workshop on “Securing Vulture Population in Southern India” on 9th Jan 2018, at Udhagamandalam, Govt. Arts and Science College, Tamil Nadu. 6 |Save vulture from brink of extinction

Photographs of work shop-SECURING VULTURE POPULATION IN SOUTHERN INDIA



Visitors Sri. Anand Nayak, IFS, Addl. PCCF, Chairman of Tamil Nadu Forest Development Corporation on 13th January, 2018
