Saving Vultures in the Terai Bhabhar

Landscape of Uttarakhand

Department of Animal Husbandry of Uttarakhand

Himalayan Griffon

Lammergerier Vulture

Egyptian Vulture

Red Headed Vulture

Himalayan Griffon

Indian White backed

Slender Billed Vulture

Vulture rich state Uttarakhand is blessed with 7 of the 9

vulture species found in the Indian subcontinent.

Cinereous Vulture

Lammergeier

Uttarakhand Megadiversity (Home to Sarus & Himalayan Monal)95 % Mountainous.

Altitude variation – 400 meters to 7800 meters.

65% Covered by forest.

Population density – 189 per square kilometer.

We began our Vulture as an internship programme in May 2009 when a farmer friend accidently stumbled upon human Diclofenac when buying painkiller for his cow at Kashipur.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2009 Aug-11 Sep-11 2011 Total

Diclofenac

Meloxicam

This was followed by an undercover survey in August, 2009. The findings were scary. Of the 75 shops in Kumaon and adjoining UP almost 50% shops gave diclofenac and meloxicam was virtually unknown as an alternate painkiller.

We began our probe by giving it as an internship project by an intern from La Barres university in France. The first somewhat

systematic monitoring of our colonies began.

JULY 2010 SMC association with BNHS/ RSPB.

Visit to Pinjour by our field coordinators & interns

We learnt –Monitoring methodology

Advocacy methodology

Capturing & protocol of inter-state transporting of live & dead

vultures.

The project picked up pace by October 2010.Door to door survey of livestock holders was conducted.

Door to door format of Questioner for livestock

holders and for animal husbandry related stakeholders.

From October 2010 to June 2011.6 blocks covering 340 villages.

Total families met 19190.Details of the above were sent to BNHS/ RSPB on monthly basis.

June 2010 July 2010

Elsa (5.30am –

6.30am)

Irene (6.30am -

8.00am)

Total number of IWBV recorded

(morning, over total monitoring

period)

52 59 64

Maximum number of IWBV

recorded

10 15 12

Minimum number of IWBV

recorded

0 1 0

Average number of IWBV recorded 4 6.5 6

Maximum number of drooping

heads

0 1 8

Minimum number of drooping

heads

0 0 0

Average number of drooping heads 0 0.2 1

% of drooping heads (morning) 0% 3.1% 19%

Observation data was collected from colonies like the

format above.

S/N. Name of CAG

1. MR (Medical Representative)

2. Para Vets

3. Quacks

4. Institutions such as BAIF

5. Human and veterinary medical shops

6. LEO

7. Pharmacies

8. Veterinary Officers

9. Private Practice Veterinary Doctors

10. Dugdh Sangh

11. Dairy Sachiv

12. Dairy Adhyaksh

13. Gram Pradhan & Panchayati Raj Institution

14. Skinner

A CAG (Core Advocacy Group) was identified to help us

focus on the most important stake holder for advocacy and

awareness.

S. no. Name No

1 MR (Medical Representative) 205

2 Para Vets 36

3 Quacks 5

4 Institutions such as BAIF 11

5 Human and veterinary medical shops 311

6 LEO 45

7 Pharmacies 23

8 Veterinary Officers 25

9 Private Practice Veterinary Doctors 5

10 Dugdh Sangh 3

11 Dairy Sachiv 47

12 Dairy Adhyaksh 40

13 Gram Pradhan & Panchayati Raj Institution 137

14 Skinner 3

Total 896

Details of CAG met between June 2011 till Feb 2012.

Awareness of Diclofenac Sodium from Oct. 2010 till Feb. 2012

Year S/N Particulars No. of People

October 2010 1 Number of interviews direct 2600

2 Number of people present 3900

3 Eid wildlife week and Ramlila 12575

4 Meetings turnover 1200

Total People 20275 20275

Year 2011 1 Number of interviews direct 14296

2 Number of people present 27050

3 Eid, wildlife week and Ramlilla turnover 8500

4 Meetings all 2800

Total People 52646 52646

February 2012 1 Number of interviews direct 1350

2 Number of people present 2100

3 Eid wildlife week and Ramlilla time people 26600

4 Meetings time people 3200

Total People 33250 33250

Total 106171

From March 2012 – February 2013 we have been

following the latest BNHS/ RSPB protocol.

3 pharmacy surveys conducted.

Total of 34 shops in Kumaon & Garhwal covering a

total of 34 cities in an area of about 27000 square

kilometres.

Festivals of ConservationWe have targeted religious festivals like Eid & Ramlila.

Local fares/mela.Local carnival.

Wildlife week.

Numerous large gatherings have been targeted to

spread awareness & sensitize masses

Monitoring of Vulture coloniesMorning and evening. It was almost alternate day in the past,

since March 2012 it is now done every 2 weeks.

Tree markings.Every nesting tree is marked physically along with GPS location,

making nest monitoring easy and for purpose of reference.

Visit by BNHS & RSPB and there constant advise and

suggestions has helped us with planning strategy.

Detail of Vulture Rescue

S.

No. Condition Area Treatment Send to

1Dead Ringora 0Pinjor

2Injured Hathidagar

Vet Hospital

RMR (Dead) Pinjor

3Injured Machhor

Zoo Nainital

Dead

Zoo

Nanital

4Injured Bailpokhra

Vet Hospital

RMR

Zoo

Nanital

5Injured Kmola

Vet Hospital

RMR

Wild

relese

6Dead Ringora 0Pinjor

7Injured Ringora

Vet Hospital

RMR

Wild

relese

8Dead Tumeriya 0Pinjor

A proactive media has been most help full to create

pressure on administration and awareness regarding

vulture. On an average almost one article every month.

Local and national media have regularly featured our

campaign.

Two documentaries have

been done and a third one

is been shot this month.

Government recognitions.

-Conservation hero award to our ecologist Oliver Gray Read 2009.

Recognition to Dr. Rajeev Singh by Minister of Agriculture

and Animal Husbandry Mr. Pritam Singh Pawar.

Vulture Conservation recognition by General B. C. Khanduri

Chief Minister of Uttarkahand during Platinum Jubilee of

Corbett Tiger Reserve.

What is needed?

- More support from Drug

controller of Uttarakhand.

- Judicial intervention. We as an

organisation are keen to file

Public interest litigation.

Aggressive and effective

visibility campaign.

One voice – ban the bottle.

- Linking up all partner organisations under 1 banner.

- Advice on funding and fundraising for .

Thank You