INTERNATIONAL VULTURE DAY (SEPTEMBER-7)

INTERNATIONAL VULTURE DAY

(SEPTEMBER-7)

Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. Populations of many species are under pressure and some species are facing extinction.The International Vulture Awareness Day has grown from Vulture Awareness Days run by the Birds of Prey Programme in South Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England, who decided to work together and expand the initiative into an international event.

It is now recognised that a co-ordinated international day will publicise the conservation of vultures to a wider audience and highlight the important work being carried out by the world’s vulture conservationists.On 7th September 2013, the aim is for each participating organisation to carry out their own activities that highlight vulture conservation and awareness. This website, established in July 2009, provides a central place for all participants to outline these activities and see the extent of vulture conservation across the world

In the absence of a stable population, the presence of meagre number of vultures in Moyar region and that too presence of only four of the nine species of vultures in Moyar valley is a cause for concern, pointed out a study titled ‘Preliminary Report on Status of Vultures and the availability of banned drug Diclofenac in Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu.’The study gains significance as September 7 is observed as International Vulture Day.According to S. Bharathidasan of Arulagam, the study was taken up in Moyar Valley in the Nilgiris, considered the hub for vultures. Arulagam is working towards the objective of Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) in association with the Critical Eco-System Partnership Fund (CEPF).

Moyar comprises four forest divisions such as Nilgiris North, Nilgiris Easten slopes, Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam and these pockets support the stronghold population of vulture. Tall trees such as Terminalia, arjuna and Manginfera indica along the river banks of Moyar serve as a breeding and roosting site for vultures.Forty eight villages and tribal settlements in around Moyar valley and villagers rear cattle for manure collection, agricultural activities and for milking purposes. These villagers resort to veterinary use of Diclofenac for ailments of their cattle.Despite the ban imposed on veterinary use of Diclofenac (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug – NSAID), the drug is available at eleven shops in Nilgiris district; 22 in Coimbatore and 30 in Erode. The ban, which came into effect in 2006, was reiterated through a gazette notification on July 5, 2008.

Prof. John Kurakar