News: National Board for Wildlife(NBWL) has approved an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025.
Facts:
Key Highlights of the Plan:
- Vulture Conservation centre: Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will get a vulture conservation and breeding centre each.
- Vulture Safe zone: Establishment of at least one vulture-safe zone in each state for the conservation of the remnant populations in that state.
- Rescue Centres: Establishment of four rescue centres, in Pinjore (Haryana), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Guwahati (Assam) and Hyderabad (Telangana). There are currently no dedicated rescue centres for treating vultures.
- Toxic Drugs: A system to automatically remove a drug from veterinary use if it is found to be toxic to vultures with the help of the Drugs Controller General of India.
- Vultures Census: Coordinated nation-wide vulture counting involving forest departments, the Bombay Natural History Society, research institutes, nonprofits and members of the public.This would be for getting a more accurate estimate of the size of vulture populations in the country.
- Database on Threats to Vulture: A database on emerging threats to vulture conservation including collision and electrocution, unintentional poisoning.
Additional Facts:
- Vultures in India: Out of 23 species of vultures in the world, nine are found in India. These include:
- White rumped vulture (Critically Endangered)
- Slender billed vulture (Critically Endangered)
- Long billed vulture (Critically Endangered)
- Red headed vulture (Critically Endangered)
- Egyptian vulture (Endangered)
- Himalayan Griffon (Near Threatened)
- Cinereous vulture (Near Threatened)
- Bearded vulture (Near Threatened)
- Griffon Vulture (Least Concern).
