Forest officials to conduct census on vultures

A census, exclusively on vultures, will soon be conducted in the forest areas in the district, forest officials said today.
Some two decades ago the population of the endangered species of vultures was 15,000. But now it has drastically declined to one thousand and odd vultures, usually found in Bhavanisagar, Moyar, Thalamalai and some places in Anthiyur forests, officials said.
Forest officials are of the opinion that the steep decline in the population is due to the abundant use of administering 'Diclofenac' as medicine to cattle. Once they consume carcass of such cattle, the birds die within a few days, officials said.

Forest department has stepped up awareness drive on the use of diclofenac and appealed to farmers not to administer the drug to cattle.
There are four types of vultures in the district's forest areas--'Venmudugu Kazhugu', 'Senthalai Kazhugu', 'Rajali Kazhugu' and 'Manjal Thirudi Kazhugu.