Despite nesting decline, Wayanad’s vultures still soar

The vulture colonisation successful Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, the lone spot successful Kerala wherever these ample scavenger birds are found, has remained unchangeable successful caller years, acknowledgment to the region’s steadfast ecosystem. Although breeding has declined, experts accidental determination is nary contiguous origin for concern.

In the latest counts, astir 80 vultures were recorded successful the sanctuary. On uncommon occasions, astir 70 vultures were seen feeding connected a azygous carcass, demonstrating the vitality of Wayanad’s ecosystem. Carcasses successful the swampy grasslands, locally known arsenic vayals, often pull 2 twelve vultures astatine a time.

Vultures are obligate aerial scavengers, feeding chiefly connected carcasses and helping forestall the dispersed of diseases successful wildlife. “Unlike different forests successful the State, Wayanad’s forests are little dense and person much grasslands oregon vayals,” said Varun Dalia, Warden of the sanctuary, explaining wherefore the portion is simply a haven for the winged scavengers.

There are astir 170 vayals of varying sizes successful Wayanad, which wood officials picture arsenic the “dining table” of herbivores. Rich successful grasses and aquatic plants, these grasslands are a captious nutrient root for deer, chaotic gaur, elephants and chaotic boars, which successful crook enactment predators and scavengers successful the wood ecosystem.

Vultures besides service arsenic important indicators of wood health. The white-rumped vulture is the astir communal taxon successful Wayanad, portion red-headed and Indian vultures are besides present. Migratory of taxon specified arsenic the Himalayan griffon, cinereous and Egyptian vultures are occasionally spotted.

C.K. Vishnudas, manager of the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, who has monitored vultures successful the Nilgiri biosphere reserve for galore years, said the lack of toxic drugs similar diclofenac and aceclofenac has helped support vulture populations successful protected areas specified arsenic Wayanad, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Satyamangalam and Mudumalai.

“It is existent that vulture breeding has declined successful Wayanad, but that is not a origin for concern. Vulture nests are inactive abundant successful Mudumalai,” helium said, pointing retired that the reasons for the driblet successful Wayanad request further study.

Rahul Raveendran, wildlife adjunct astatine Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, suggested that quality enactment and the dispersed of invasive plants whitethorn beryllium contributing to the disappearance of vulture nests. “We utilized to find nests astatine sites specified arsenic Ayyappanpara, Kazhukankolli and Kaithallam, but nary longer,” helium said.

Human disturbances tin disrupt vulture breeding, portion invasive taxon similar Senna endanger the maturation of autochthonal trees, further impacting nesting and foraging habitats.