Sanctuarys efforts revive scavengers ……….Yogesh Naik
Sindhudurg: While vultures are dwindling across India, a conservation programme undertaken by forest officials in Malwan Marine Sanctuary has ensured there is a sustained increase in their numbers.
In 2003, forest officials had undertaken a programme to save the vultures in the sanctuary.
In 2003, forest officials had undertaken a programme to save the vultures in the sanctuary.
Sawantwadis deputy conservator of forests, Naresh Zurmure told TOI, When we started our programme, there were only six vultures in the area. But as a result of our sustained efforts, the figure has risen to 22.
Vultures have built their nests atop palm trees and according to officials, villagers climb them to pluck coconuts. The forest officials have dissuaded them. In lieu, we have promised them Rs 500 per tree, per annum under the funds that are being allocated to us. Carcasses of animals who die nearby are also thrown near the vultures nests, Zurmure said.
In 2003, officials discovered two colonies of vultures at Deobag and Murud in Sindhudurg district. A CCTV camera has also been put up to keep tabs on the movement of vultures. According to officials, vultures often sit on their nests without laying eggs (faking incubation) for nearly three months.
The vultures were also facing scarcity of food, because under the Sant Gadage Baba Gram Swachchata Abhiyan (clean village initiative), the villagers had started burying their dead livestock. As a result, the vultures do not get their staple food and 80% of the livestock was buried in 50 villages nearby.
To overcome both challenges, the forest department decided to feed vultures in the Deobag colony. A 2,000 sq-ft fenced feeding ground was constructed, using chains as links, where vultures could feed freely without any disturbance from dogs. This would help keep the village clean too. At Deobag, a person was given the task of lifting carcasses and dumping them in the fenced area near the breeding ground. The villagers were also educated and told to hand over a carcass to this worker appointed by the forest department.
Surveys undertaken by the forest department showed that because of its efforts, the tendency to fake incubation declined from 45% to 13% and the rate of breeding increased from 16% to 40%.
Most nests are also constructed on coconut trees. Farmers destroy the nests as vulture droppings produce heat. Their activities reduce coconut output and sometimes the trees die. Officials are now going to use part of the funds for saving vultures.
The area for feeding vultures will also be increased to 5,000 sq ft. Forest officials o plan to use a portion of the funds granted by the United Nations Development Programme in the vulture conservation programme.
* SWOOPING DOWN: A CCTV camera has been set up to keep tabs on the movement of vultures
* SWOOPING DOWN: A CCTV camera has been set up to keep tabs on the movement of vultures