'MP government to conduct statewide Vulture Census in 2016'

The Madhya Pradesh government would conduct a statewide Vulture Census in two phases this year, aiming at preservation of the endangered natural scavenger, officials said.
"The first phase of the Vulture Census would be held on January 23, and the second one in May.
"On the basis of the data collected, the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal would prepare a Regional Vulture Atlas. Based on this Atlas, the strategies to preserve vultures and vulture nests would be chalked out," a press release issued here said.
In the surveys conducted so far, 592 vulture nests have been found in 30 districts of the state. Of these, the maximum 80 vulture nests have been found in Sheopur district, while Chhindwara was home to 68 nests, and Sheopur, to 59 nests, it said.

Besides, vulture nests have also been found in Bhopal, Sehore, Vidisha, Raisen, Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Datia, Gwalior, Morena, Dindori, Jabalpur, Mandla, Rewa, Satna, idhi, Damoh, Sagar, Umaria, Shahdol, Ashoknagar, Guna, Shivpuri, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Mandsaur, Neemuch and Hoshangabad districts, it further said.
The IIFM has conducted vulture census training programmes at Bhopal, Indore, Seoni, Jabalpur, Chhatarpur and Shivpuri. Besides, forest circle-level workshops would be held from January 1-15, the release said.
This is the first statewide Vulture Census to be held in Madhya Pradesh, it said.
Individuals and organizations may also take part by contacting the concerned Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), it added.