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Rare vultures seen in Indian wild | Rare vultures seen in Indian wild |
(about 2 hours later) | |
About 200 rare Bearded Vultures have been seen in a remote part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, a forestry official has told the BBC. | |
The state's chief conservator of forests, Vinay Tandon, said that the sighting of the bearded vultures was "hugely significant". | The state's chief conservator of forests, Vinay Tandon, said that the sighting of the bearded vultures was "hugely significant". |
Mr Tandon said that four out of the five major vulture species in India are critically endangered. | Mr Tandon said that four out of the five major vulture species in India are critically endangered. |
Experts estimate that there are only a few hundred vultures left in India. | Experts estimate that there are only a few hundred vultures left in India. |
"We had reports on Monday that what appears to be a very large colony of Bearded Vultures - or Lammergeiers - were spotted close to the border with China in what is known as the trans-Himalayan region," Mr Tandon told the BBC. | |
"As yet we are not able to confirm that the birds belong to this species. A team from the state's wildlife department will be making its way to the area as soon as possible. | "As yet we are not able to confirm that the birds belong to this species. A team from the state's wildlife department will be making its way to the area as soon as possible. |
"We are especially pleased to hear of such a large colony when in recent years the vulture population of India has been disappearing so rapidly." | "We are especially pleased to hear of such a large colony when in recent years the vulture population of India has been disappearing so rapidly." |
Mr Tandon said that the vultures had been spotted in Lahaul-Spiti, one of the remotest districts of Himachal Pradesh. | Mr Tandon said that the vultures had been spotted in Lahaul-Spiti, one of the remotest districts of Himachal Pradesh. |
Cattle link | Cattle link |
It is thought the vulture population catastrophe has in part been exacerbated by the use of certain veterinary medicines among cattle. | It is thought the vulture population catastrophe has in part been exacerbated by the use of certain veterinary medicines among cattle. |
India's vulture population is in serious decline | India's vulture population is in serious decline |
The BBC's Jyotsna Singh in Delhi says that experts believe that vultures have been badly affected by excessive use of the painkiller diclofenac in cattle. | The BBC's Jyotsna Singh in Delhi says that experts believe that vultures have been badly affected by excessive use of the painkiller diclofenac in cattle. |
Vultures feeding on the cattle lose their ability to reproduce. | Vultures feeding on the cattle lose their ability to reproduce. |
The use of the drug has been banned but officials argue more awareness is needed to save the vultures, our correspondent says. | The use of the drug has been banned but officials argue more awareness is needed to save the vultures, our correspondent says. |
While Bearded Vultures are not thought to have been so badly affected by the drug, their numbers have nevertheless significantly dwindled in India. | |
In August conservationists announced that the endangered Slender Billed vulture had twice been successfully bred in the states of Haryana and West Bengal. | In August conservationists announced that the endangered Slender Billed vulture had twice been successfully bred in the states of Haryana and West Bengal. |
Conservationists say that despite the recent sightings, urgent action is still needed to save vultures from extinction in the wild. | Conservationists say that despite the recent sightings, urgent action is still needed to save vultures from extinction in the wild. |
"With extinction in the wild likely in the next 10 years, we do not have a moment to waste. The more vultures that we can bring into captivity means a better chance of survival for these rapidly-declining species," Birdlife International spokesman Chris Bowden said. | "With extinction in the wild likely in the next 10 years, we do not have a moment to waste. The more vultures that we can bring into captivity means a better chance of survival for these rapidly-declining species," Birdlife International spokesman Chris Bowden said. |