Over 20 Himalayan Griffon Vultures Spotted Roosting Together Near Corbett
Wildlife observers reported a rare sighting of more than 20 Himalayan Griffon vultures roosting together on a single tree in Ramnagar forest division's Teda area, part of the Corbett landscape, where vulture numbers have sharply declined in recent decades.
Current Summary
More than 20 Himalayan Griffon vultures were recently spotted perched together on a single tree in Ramnagar forest division's Teda area, near Corbett. Wildlife conservationists called the sighting rare, noting that vultures have largely vanished from the Corbett landscape over the past few decades. The Corbett Tiger Reserve administration said it has been studying vultures and their movement for several years to better understand their behaviour and habitat requirements and address conservation challenges. Wildlife photographer Deep Rajwar said vultures play a vital ecological role by feeding on carcasses and helping keep the environment clean, and that while a single large roosting group does not necessarily indicate an overall population increase, it offers an important opportunity to study the birds' presence and behaviour in an area where their numbers have declined sharply. Officials noted that the use of diclofenac, a livestock anti-inflammatory drug toxic to vultures, has been a major driver of the species' decline.
What We Know
- More than 20 Himalayan Griffon vultures were seen perched together on a single tree in Ramnagar forest division's Teda area.
- Conservationists described the sighting as rare, since vultures have largely disappeared from the Corbett landscape in recent decades.
- Corbett Tiger Reserve has been studying vulture movement and behaviour for several years to address conservation challenges.
- Wildlife photographer Deep Rajwar said vultures help maintain ecological balance by feeding on carcasses.
- Use of the livestock drug diclofenac, toxic to vultures, has been cited as a major reason for the species' decline.
What Is Still Unclear
- Whether the large roosting group reflects an actual increase in the local vulture population.
- The exact date of the sighting.
What Changed
- 13 Oct, 01:00 pmSignal detected: Over 20 Himalayan Griffon Vultures Spotted Roosting Together Near Corbett