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Location where to get the Complete Article --> Vol 3, No 1 (2016): 49-51

ISSN- 2348-5191 (Print version); 2348-8980 (Online)

Breeding Biology of Critically Endangered Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) at a Unique Site in Telangana State, India



Ravikanth Manchiryala, Ram Mohan Medicheti

Abstract

Out of nine species of vultures, the population of three Gyps species, White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) and Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) has declined drastically by 99% over the past decade (Prakash, 1999). The Gyps vultures' population declined in India by 97% and by 92% in Pakistan (Virani, 2006, Prakash et al., 2012). Possibly the widespread usage of Diclofenac drug in the animal led to the rapid population decline for these Vultures (Green et al., 2004). The Long-billed Vulture G. indicus is a bald headed vulture with very broad wings and short tail feathers, having no sexual dimorphism. In Malabar hills region of India the breeding season of Long-billed Vultures was noted to be November to May where it breed mainly on cliffs (Edward, 1915). Presently, it is in the most critical category of endangerment, listed in Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act-1972 followed by IUCN, 2015 (http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22729731/0). The Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, Hyderabad announced that vultures are already 'Extinct' in the state.


References

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    • DOI:10.21276/ambi.2016.03.1.nn01

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    Published by: National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India

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