With most of the vulture species extinct in the country. locals in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Sunday captured a rare white vulture. According to a report by news agency ANI. A rare Himalayan griffon vulture has been caught in the Eidgah graveyard in Kanpur’s Colonelganj. It was said to have been in the area for about a week.
A local told ANI, “The vulture was here for a week. We tried to catch it but were not successful. Finally, we got down and caught it.” The forest department was then alerted and the vulture was handed over to them.
ANI also shared a video where locals are seen holding the distressed bird. And spreading its wings to display it in front of the camera. Many amazed locals also gathered there to catch a glimpse of the rare bird and take pictures with it. The wingspan of this vulture is said to be about five feet.
The Himalayan Griffon Vulture is a ‘Near Threatened’ bird found in the Himalayan Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. Four of the nine vulture species in India also fall under the Endangered’ category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Vultures are also listed in Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Which is the highest category of wildlife protection in the country.
According to a PTI report, the number of vultures declined in the Indian subcontinent in the 1990s. As National Geographic reports, vulture populations have declined. By more than 99 percent since 1990 due to the use of the veterinary anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac. The drug causes severe kidney failure in vultures that eat carcasses of treated cows.
More threats to vultures include other accidental. And intentional poisonings, electrocution by power lines. Habitat alteration and carcass removal, which deprives them of food.
According to a PTI report, the number of vultures declined in the Indian subcontinent in the 1990s. As National Geographic reports, vulture populations have declined. By more than 99 percent since 1990 due to the use of the veterinary anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac. The drug causes severe kidney failure in vultures that eat carcasses of treated cows.
More threats to vultures include other accidental. And intentional poisonings, electrocution by power lines, habitat alteration. And carcass removal, which deprives them of food.
