Nagpur: In what can be called a good news for bird watchers, the Bor forest witnessed a rare sighting of a ‘critically endangered’ bird, Indian vulture (Gyps indicus). The Indian vulture, which can be found in Pakistan and Nepal also, has been listed in ‘critically endangered’ category on the IUCN Red List since 2002 because of its declining population.
The vulture was sighted by bird expert Dilip Virkhade at the backyard of Bor dam. “We found that a long-billed bird was feeding on a nilgai carcass along with some wild boars. We were curious and with a close look it turned out to be an Indian vulture,” said Virkhade, member of the Bahar Nature Foundation.
In the 1990s, vultures were prominently found in the region but, according to reports, the numbers of the bird started declining after consuming animal carcasses exposed to diclofenac. Virkhade says, “In 2015, when we published the list of birds in Wardha district, it included four species of vultures including Indian vulture. This is the first record in Bor,” he said.
“We are happy to record of Indian vulture in Bor. A scientific study needs to be done whether the raptor is a resident or has migrated from elsewhere. It also shows that the tiger reserve has good habitat and rich biodiversity,” said Nilesh Gawande, range forest officer (RFO), Bor.
“The recorded evidence of the prey bird has thrilled bird watchers. The species went extinct due to human errors. Now its reappearance calls for scientific studies,” said former honorary wildlife warden Sanjay Ingle Teegaonkar.