Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In response to the rapid decline in vulture numbers, the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh has launched its vulture census in the Indore range.
The survey, which began on Monday, is being carried out in collaboration with local NGOs. On the first day of the survey, officials spotted the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Patalpani.
Commonly known as the white scavenger vulture or Pharaoh's chicken, the Egyptian vulture is a small Old World vulture in the monotypic genus Neophron.
Egyptian vultures primarily feed on carrion but are opportunistic feeders, preying on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Forest workers have already surveyed 900 forested areas across 33 districts of the state. More than 30 workers in the Indore forest division alone are participating in the count at 25 different locations.
The census will span two days, focusing on vultures observed both on the ground and in trees. Survey reports from each forest division are expected to be submitted to the headquarters within the next four to five days.
During the last census, 117 vultures were recorded across 36 sites in the Indore, Choral, Mhow, and Manpur areas. The species observed included Egyptian Vulture, White-Rumped Vulture, King Vulture, Long-Billed Vulture, Eurasian Griffon, and Cylinder-Billed Vultures. This survey is particularly significant as vultures, once abundant in the region, are rapidly disappearing due to habitat destruction and poisoning.
The Forest Department hopes that this census will help track the vulture population and contribute to developing strategies to safeguard these vital scavengers.
