Vultures flourish in Sathyamangalam forest
There is good news for bird lovers and environmentalists. While the country has lost more than 90 per cent of its vultures, the small population of these scavenger birds in Moyar river valley in Sathyamangalam forest remains healthy and stable.
Recent studies and field observation made by the Forest Department reveal that the white-rumped and long-billed vulture birds are seen in Moyar River in Thengumarada and Bhavanisagar forest areas.
These vultures are using the riverside as nesting site and Bhavanisagar forest area as feeding ground.
“We see a healthy population of vultures in Sathyamangalam forest these days and their population is found stable especially in Thengumarada and Bhavanisagar areas,” District Forest Officer N. Satheesh told The Hindu .
The Moyar river valley is an undisturbed habitat and the trees along the river are suitable for these forest scavengers for nesting and breeding. “Besides, the forests here offer adequate food sources for the birds,” Mr. Satheesh points out.
The vultures feed on the carcasses of livestock, wild animals in the forest areas and other dead animals in the nearby human habitations.
Once the white-rumped, long-billed and slender-billed vultures (Gyps vultures) were common throughout the India and now they are highly restricted to a few localities.
According to environmentalists, the presence of Diclofenac, a drug used widely as a painkiller in livestock, was responsible for the devastating decline in vulture population.
“Since vultures in Sathyamangalam depend on the food inside the forests and they are not exposed to the drug, which is one of the main reasons for the healthy and stable population,” Mr. Satheesh says.
Forest officials further say that the department is continuously monitoring the movement and feeding behaviour of the scavenger birds and efforts are being made to protect their habitat.
Recent studies made by the Forest Department reveal that the white-rumped and long-billed vultures are seen in Moyar River
Article By :S. RAMESH
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