By Gayatri Devi
BHUBANESWAR: Wildlife and animal lovers in Odisha have expressed happiness after an Endangered Egyptian Vulture spotted in Bhubaneswar few weeks back. Of the 9 species of vultures found in India, the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is one among them.
These are also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh’s chicken with three subspecies having a global distribution. Of the three subspecies, Neophron percnopterus percnopterus and Neophron percnopterus ginginianus are found in the Indian subcontinent.
These vultures are identifiable from other species of vultures by its medium sized white body and highly distinctive yellow bill and face, mostly seen around human settlement in search of food. In India it is mostly distributed in the north-west part.
Status in Odisha, though this vulture is quiet uncommon to Odisha, but according to the media report 13 number of Egyptian vultures were spotted during July 2013 near Laxmipur in Chikiti forest range of Ganjam district and in march 2016 in Bhetnoi area of Ganjam district, and in July 2016 at Golat Golanthara area in Ganjam district.
A single Egyptian vulture was photographed and documented by Gayatri Devi, wildlife researcher, Founder and Chairman of Grow with Nature on 30th April 2020 near Kalinga Stadium. On 1st May, the vulture was rescued by the locals and members of the organization Grow with Nature and handed over to the City Forest Division, Bhubaneswar. The vulture was rehabilited at Patrapada, Range Office, taken best care and undergone routine medical checkup by the forest department. The vulture was released inside the Chandaka Dampara Wl Sanctuary on 5th may 2020, early in the morning.
This vulture was recorded first time in the Bhubaneswar city. The observation indicate that, due to lockdown effect, there was least movement of people and climatic conditions were restoring gradually. These unseen eco-restoration processes might have been one cause of the sighting of the Endangered Egyptian vulture in the heart of Bubaneswar city.
The vultures plays a hugely important role in the ecosystem, particularly in a urban landscape by helping in quick disposition of carcasses and also by clearing the garbages thereby stops the spread of disease. Now a days because of rapid decline in their number, the Egyptian vulture is included in the IUCN Red List as a globally Endangered species.
It is for the first time Egyptian vulture is recorded from the heart of Bhubaneswar city. So, in future there needs vigorous research and studies on its feeding and breeding ecology, and their role in a urban landscape so, that with the help these data and information, the conservation measure, public awareness and protection of this particular Endangered species could be possible.
(The Writer, Gayatri Devi, is a Wildlife Researcher, Founder and Chairman Grow with Nature, can be reached at devigayatri27@gmail.com, 8658935894, 8763852037)
