Reference:

• During the vulture census in Madhya Pradesh, a total of 12,981 vultures were recorded, making it the state with the highest number of vultures in the country.
• In the previous census, there were 10,845 vultures in the state.

Census process:

• Divided into two phases: The 2025 vulture census was divided into two phases. The first phase was held in February, while the second phase will be held on April 29, 2025.
• The forest department has been conducting vulture counts in the state since 2016. In 2016, there were 6,999 vultures in the state.
• Location: The census was conducted in all forest areas, national parks, tiger reserves and protected areas throughout the state. This included Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and other important forest areas.
• Main vulture habitat areas: Panna Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, Satpura Tiger Reserve, and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary remain important vulture habitats.
• Seven major species of vultures are found in Madhya Pradesh, including four resident and three migratory species.

Vulture species found in Madhya Pradesh:

1. Indian Long-billed Vulture

2. White-rumped Vulture

3. Egyptian Vulture

4. Red-headed Vulture

Migratory vultures (winter visitors):

1. Himalayan Griffon Vulture

2. Eurasian Griffon Vulture

3. Cinereous Vulture

Vultures: Nature's scavengers:

• A vulture is a carnivorous bird that helps keep the environment clean by primarily eating dead animals. This bird plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the earth.

Key features of vultures:

• Scientific name: Vultures have different species, which come from the Accipitridae and Cathartidae families.
• Food: Vultures eat the flesh of dead animals, preventing the spread of infections and diseases.
• Lifespan: Can usually live for 10 to 30 years.
• Flight ability: Vultures are capable of flying at high altitudes and can fly for many kilometers without expending much energy.
• Vision: Their vision is extremely sharp, allowing them to see dead animals from high altitudes.
• Reproduction: It is a slow-breeding bird and lays only one or two eggs at a time.

Vulture species:

Vulture species in the world:

• A total of 23 species of vultures are found in the world.
• These are mainly divided into two families:

1. Old World Vultures: These are found in Europe, Asia and Africa.

2. New World Vultures: These are found in North and South America.

• A total of 9 species of vultures are found in India, some of which are local (resident) and some are migratory.

1. Indian Long-billed Vulture:

• Scientific name: Gyps indicus
• Status: Critically Endangered
• Description: This vulture is light brown in color and has a long beak. It lives in rocks and hills.
• Main locations: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka

2. White-rumped Vulture:

• Scientific name: Gyps bengalensis
• Status: Critically Endangered
• Description: It is a medium-sized vulture with a white back and black wings.
• Main locations: North India, Nepal, Bengal, Assam

3. Egyptian Vulture:

• Scientific name: Neophron percnopterus
• Status: Endangered
• Description: It is a small white vulture and has a yellow beak. It eats insects, small mammals, and even fruits.
• Main locations: Found throughout India.

4. Red-headed Vulture:

• Scientific name: Sarcogyps calvus
• Status: Critically Endangered
• Description: This vulture has a red head and black wings. It is found in dense forests and open areas.
• Main locations: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

5. Himalayan Griffon Vulture:

• Scientific name: Gyps himalayensis
• Status: Near Threatened
• Description: It is the largest vulture and is found in high mountain ranges.
• Main locations: Himalayan region (Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh)

6. Eurasian Griffon:

• Scientific name: Gyps fulvus
• Status: Least Concern
• Description: It is a large vulture, which is light brown in color and is mainly a migratory vulture.
• Main locations: North and West India

7. Cinereous Vulture:

• Scientific name: Aegypius monachus
• Status: Near Threatened
• Description: It is dark brown or black in color and its head is light pink in color.
• Main locations: Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat

8. Slender-billed Vulture:

• Scientific name: Gyps tenuirostris
• Status: Critically Endangered
• Description: It is similar to the Indian long-billed vulture, but its beak is thin.
• Main locations: North-East India, Assam, West Bengal, Nepal

9. Bearded Vulture:

• Scientific name: Gypaetus barbatus
• Status: Near Threatened
• Description: This vulture is known for breaking bones by dropping them from height and eating their marrow.
• Main locations: Himalayan region (Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand)

Threat to vulture population in India:

• Vultures that ate dead cattle treated with diclofenac suffered kidney failure and died.
• To save the vulture population in the country, the government banned the sale and use of diclofenac for cattle in 2006.