Group of 15 vultures sighted in Tripura

A group of about 15 vultures, a dwindling species, were recently sighted in Kalyanpur area of Khowai district, a top forest official said here today.
"We have seen a group of about 15 vultures in Kalyanpur area recently. It is a matter of joy for any animal lover. The vulture is dwindling very fast in the country as well as in the world due to loss of habitat and food crisis", Chief Wildlife Warden of Tripura, A K Gupta said.
Concerned over the drastic decline in vulture population in Tripura, the forest department has decided to start captive breeding of the scavenger bird at the Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary near here.

"There are only 55 vultures in the state which came to light following a survey by the department. So, we have decided on captive breeding to conserve the bird," Gupta said.
Of the 55 vultures, 27 were sighted in Khowai district, 26 in South Tripura district and only two in Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Sipahijala district, according to the survey carried out by Gupta at 107 areas in 16 sub-divisions of the state.
"Vultures are an important component of the forest eco-system. They maintain the balance of the living and dead by devouring remains of dead animals," Gupta said.

He said the vultures like trees from Ficus group (like Shimul, Peepal etc). "We have decided to plant such types of trees in the areas the vultures are still living. But the main problem is that people are not throwing the carcasses of animals in the forests or vacant lands which lead to crisis of foods for the scavenger birds", he added.

Among the nine species of vultures in the country, white-rumped vultures found in Tripura were identified as critically endangered by environmentalists, Gupta said.
The Bombay Natural History Society and Zoological Survey of India would tie up with the forest department for the project once Tripura is declared a Diclofenac-free state.