Vulture/गिद्ध/eal

Happy to see you after long time

A vulture is a scavenging bird, divided into "Old World" vultures of Eurasia and Africa (Family Accipitridae) and "New World" vultures of the Americas (Family Cathartidae). Old World vultures are more related to hawks while New World vultures have been genetically linked to storks. Himalayan Vulture - Gyps Himalayensis. It is the largest and heaviest bird found in the Himalayas. It is an old world vulture; it is about a meter long, with 2.7 meter wingspan, black and brown above and reddish brown below, its head and neck are almost bald and its weighs 9-12 kg.

Currently vulture population in India is at risk of extinction. During 1980’s there were nearly 40 million vultures in India. The alarming population decline was recorded in the 1990’s by Bombay natural history society (BNHS). 95% of vulture population is declined.  The main causes of vulture decline indentified the use of veterinary drug, especially Diclofenac Sodium, a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug help in reduce inflammation and as analgesic reducing pain. In 2003 the BNHS raised a campaign against this drug. In 2006 Govt. of India issued a ban on the production, sale, and use of the drug in veterinary purposes. Vultures are long lived but slow breeder and usually lays only one egg in a year and heavy use of pesticide in the field, ultimately go through food-chain to the vulture which leads to reproductive disorder causing reduced breeding capacity.

Few studies show that the increasing number of cell phone towers bringing down birds population by increasing Electrosmog. The  existing guidelines for telecommunication do not adequately protect wildlife. Large birds like peacock, vulture, swans and hornbill are more pronounced as their wings occupy more surface area resulting large absorption of radiation and creating more health hazard leading to death of these large birds..

Vulture can be regarded as natural resource like air, water and soil. It provides us number of services most important disposal of carcass.  It affects our health, our environment by rapid and efficiently removing carcasses.Decline of vulture population, result in increase in feral dog population which directly increases the dog bits and rabies. It also spread anthrax and water borne diseases to humans. In 2000, survey by national institute of communicable diseases Delhi (NICD) estimated the dog population in India is 22 million and case of dog bite is around 2.28 million per year. The 17^th Indian livestock census 2003 ministry of agriculture, department of animal husbandry and dairying, govt. of India reported dog population is 29.02 million.

Vulture is symbolic god and goddesses around the world. Sampati and Jatayu of Hindu mythology give vulture popularity in India. Jatayu was friend of Dasaratha, he was the warrior, whose wings were cut by Ravana in indecent act to abduct Sita. Vulture is also known as vehicle of Saturn (Sani) the planet.

In our community (Nanyal), vulture is a part of worship ritual during wedding. We offer food, milk, kheer, ghee, fruits, pancake (cheela) to vulture. This offering is called as Naivedya. Vulture cannot eat naivedya as they are scavenger feeds on dead animals. We just symbolically surrender our Aham (ego) at her feet in the form of Naivedya.

Vultures are important for their environmental, cultural and religious significance that some communities attach to their role of disposing of human bodies for thousand of year like Parsi community, ‘sky burial’ in Tibetan.  Vulture is listed in the Red List of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as critically endangered. Vultures are revered as purifiers who never kill and always feed on those who die naturally or killed by other. So, there was an urgent need to focus more scientific attention on the most valuable bird before it was too late.

Wonderful click by :- Ajay Sharma (Bava) Sulla Nalla (Bandrai)