Vulture - Dehradun
Prelims:
Environment
& Ecology
Mains:
GS Paper III:
Environment – Conservation, Infrastructure
Current relevance:
A
decade-old study published in the latest issue of the Journal of Threatened
Taxa suggests that relocating a livestock carcass dumping site by about
2.4 km away from high-tension power infrastructure in the Sudhauwala region
of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, may have reduced the risk of vulture
electrocution.
Highlights:
About vultures:
1.
Vulture
habitats vary according to species and include nesting areas,
surrounding natural landscapes and feeding sites such as carcass dumps.
2.
The
Wildlife Institute of India (WII) recent national assessment covers
breeding populations of threatened resident vultures and also records wintering
migratory vultures, demonstrating that India supports both resident and
migratory species.
3.
The
three critically endangered resident Gyps species monitored extensively
in India are:
·
White-rumped
Vulture
·
Indian
Vulture
·
Slender-billed
Vulture
4.
Vultures
are long-lived raptors and specialised scavengers that primarily feed on
animal carcasses.
5.
By
consuming animal carcasses, vultures perform a vital ecological role in
maintaining the natural scavenger system.
Major Threats:
1.
Poisoning: Exposure to toxic substances poses a
serious survival risk to vultures.
2.
Veterinary
NSAIDs: Consumption of
carcasses containing residues of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
threatens vulture populations.
3.
Food
Scarcity: Reduced
availability of safe animal carcasses can affect their food supply.
4.
Habitat
Loss: Degradation and
loss of suitable feeding and nesting habitats increase pressure on vulture
populations.
5.
Power
Infrastructure:
High-tension transmission structures can expose vultures to electrocution,
particularly when feeding sites are located nearby.
6.
Underreported
Electrocution: The
Dehradun study documented 46 electrocution-related vulture deaths, with
the Himalayan Griffon recording the highest proportion of mortality,
followed by the Eurasian Griffon and Cinereous Vulture.
7.
Higher
Vulnerability: As
vultures are long-lived scavengers, additional adult mortality from
infrastructure can become a significant localised conservation threat.
Preventive Measures:
1.
Strategic
Site Relocation: Locate
livestock carcass dumping and feeding sites away from hazardous power
infrastructure to minimise electrocution.
2.
Spatial
Planning: Integrate
vulture feeding areas with power-infrastructure planning to prevent the
creation of high-risk zones.
3.
Safe
Feeding Sites: Ensure
that carcass disposal locations provide vultures with safe access to food
without exposure to electrical hazards.
4.
Evidence-Based
Intervention: In
Dehradun, shifting the carcass dump about 2.4 km away from high-risk
electricity infrastructure allowed continued use by vultures, with no
mortality recorded during limited post-relocation monitoring.
5.
Replication: Similar relocation measures could be
considered in other areas where carcass dumps and hazardous electricity
infrastructure overlap.
6.
Integrated
Conservation:
Infrastructure-based interventions should complement measures addressing
NSAIDs, poisoning, food scarcity and habitat loss.
Source: THE HINDU - https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/for-vultures-near-dehradun-24-km-separates-survival-from-electrocution/article71403683.ece