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Bearded Vultures 'seen in India' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
About 200 Bearded Vultures have been spotted in a remote part of India's Himachal Pradesh state, reports say. | |
State chief conservator of forests Vinay Tandon said the reported sighting was being checked by wildlife officials and would be "hugely significant". | |
Lammergeiers have been seen on India's border with China, but not in such a large group or at so high an altitude. | |
There has been growing concern in India over the fast dwindling population of vultures in recent years. | |
Experts estimate there are only a few hundred vultures left in India. | |
'Pleased' | |
Mr Tandon said four out of the five major vulture species in India are critically endangered. | |
We are especially pleased... in recent years the vulture population of India has been disappearing so rapidly Vinay Tandon, Himachal Pradesh state | |
"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," he 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. |
Lammergeiers are long-winged vultures known for their unusual habit of dropping bones on to rocks to smash them open and get at the marrow. | |
Their world population is estimated at between 2,000-10,000 individuals. | |
Cattle link | Cattle link |
South Asia's vulture population has been virtually wiped out in recent years. | |
India's vulture population is in serious decline | India's vulture population is in serious decline |
Experts believe vultures have been badly affected by the 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. |
While Bearded Vultures are not thought to have been so badly affected by the drug, their numbers have nevertheless significantly dwindled in India. | 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. |