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Observation of a Population of Egyptian Vultures Neophron Percnopterus in Ramanagaram Hills, Karnataka, Southern India

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Observation of a Population of Egyptian Vultures Neophron Percnopterus in Ramanagaram Hills, Karnataka, Southern India Vulture News 71 November 2016 Observation of a population of Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus in Ramanagaram Hills, Karnataka, southern India Arockianathan Samson* and Balasundaram Ramakarishnan Mammalogy and Forest Ecology wing, Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, Government Arts College, Udhagamandalam-643 002, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India *Corresponding Author: [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v71i1.3 Abstract The results of counts at two different regular Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus feeding sites are presented for the Ramanagaram Hills Reserve Forest between 2013 and 2014 in Karnataka, southern India. The number of Egyptian Vultures recorded at feeding sites ranged from 2 to 19 individuals (mean 12.3 ±1.76 s.e.). The attitude of local people towards vulture conservation was assessed and more than 90% (90.82%) of respondents had a favourable opinion of vultures. We highlight that educating livestock owners, farmers and veterinary personnel is essential to secure healthy food for vultures. Introduction Vultures perform a vital role in these, six are found in southern India nature’s sanitation process by eating namely Egyptian Vulture Neophron meat from carcasses (Houston 1974). percnopterus, Red-headed Vulture While feeding, vultures reduce the Sarcogyps calvus, White-rumped potential spread of diseases that Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Long- could affect other animals and billed Vulture Gyps indicus, humans (Ogada et al. 2012a). Nine Cinereous Vulture Aegypius species of vultures are recorded in monachus and Himalayan Vulture India (Ali & Ripley 1987) and of Gyps himalayensis (Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu 1999, Sashikumar 2001, 36 Vulture News 71 November 2016 Subramanya 2001, Davidar & declined in parallel to Gyps vultures Davidar 2002, Thejaswi 2004, in the Indian subcontinent, including Subramanya & Naveen 2006, Nepal (Cuthbert et al. 2006). These Davidar 2007, Umapathy et al. 2009, species are therefore also considered Ramakrishnan et al. 2010, 2012, to be susceptible to diclofenac Praveen et al. 2014, Ramakrishnan et poisoning (Green et al. 2004, al. 2014, Samson et al. 2014a.b, Cuthbert et al. 2006). Samson et al. 2015, Samson et al. The Egyptian Vulture is a 2016 a.b). resident species of Ramanagaram Presently, 14 of the world’s 23 Hills in Karnataka, southern India. It (61%) vulture species are threatened plays an important ecological role by with extinction and the most rapid removing municipal waste and declines have occurred in the animal carcasses. The breeding range vulture-rich regions of Asia and of this species is very large and Africa (Ogada et al. 2012b). The spreads over southern Europe, reasons for these population declines northwest Africa and some areas of vary, but poisoning (both deliberate near Asia and India (Cramp & and accidental) or human persecution Simmons 1980). Egyptian Vultures or both feature in the list of nearly normally feed on carrion and every declining species. The most generally prefer forested habitats to drastic decline of all in vulture human-dominated areas. Ali & populations occurred over the Indian Ripley (1987) however, highlight subcontinent since the 1990s that the Egyptian Vulture can persist (Prakash 1999, Prakash & Rahmani near human habitation and that it 1999, Virani et al. 2001, Prakash et forages in refuse dumps. It is al. 2003, Gilbert et al. 2004, therefore an opportunistic scavenger Chhangani 2005). These declines that uses a variety of food sources in and the critical conservation status of its diet. The aim of the present study most vultures in India are largely due was to examine the population status to the veterinary drug diclofenac, and feeding behaviour of Egyptian used on cattle, which has proved to Vultures and also to assess people’s be highly toxic to any vultures perception of Egyptian Vultures in feeding on the carcass of a recently the Ramanagaram Hills Reserve treated animal (Oaks et al. 2004, Forest, Karnataka, an area Green et al. 2004). Both Egyptian unrepresented for studies on this and Red-headed Vultures have species. 37 Vulture News 71 November 2016 Study area supporting over 150 species of birds including the endemic Yellow- The Ramanagaram Hills are sparsely throated Bulbul Pycnonotus vegetated granite hills located to the xantholaemus and the critically southwest of Bangalore (12°07– endangered Long-billed Vulture; one 12°58’N 77°08’–77°25’E) in of the few locations in south India Karnataka, India (Map 1). They where Long-billed Vultures nest extend for approximately 75 km and (Subramanya & Naveen 2006). are approximately 25 km wide. The Although the Hills of Ramanagaram average elevation is 747 m form part of the Important Bird Area (2450 feet) above sea level. The hills (IBA) network in India (Islam & are home to a wide variety of flora Rahmani 2004), they are threatened and fauna and the forest-covered by quarrying and also plans to carve slopes are of significant statues into the hills. ornithological importance, Map 1: Map showing the location of Ramangara and the study sites where Egyptian Vultures were counted. 38 Vulture News 71 November 2016 Materials and methods Vulture conservation among local people living within the forest The study was carried out from fringes (n=60): local people (n=16); December 2013 to May 2014 in the livestock owners (n=30); silk Ramanagaram Hills Reserve Forest processing site owners (n=4); as well as surrounding areas of slaughterhouse owners (n=4); local human habitation, which we veterinarians (n=2) and drug considered to be favourable for pharmacies (n=4). The questionnaire sighting Egyptian Vultures. Counts recorded the age of the respondent, of Egyptian Vultures, Black Kites their religion, views of vulture Milvus migrans, Brahminy Kites conservation and the importance of Haliastur indus, House Crows vultures, carcass disposal methods, Corvus splendens, Pond Herons amount of livestock holdings, Aredola grayii and Cattle Egrets veterinary practices and diclofenac Bubulcus ibis were done at twice- usage (Baral et al. 2005, Subadi monthly intervals survey was 2007). completed at 8 am to 12 am in a day all feeding stations located at silk Results processing sites and slaughter houses (Map 1) in the Ramanagaram Hills Two counts per month were (Purohit & Saran 2013). Feeding completed at the silk processing sites behaviours were recorded using scan and the slaughterhouse waste dumps sampling and ad libitum methods over the five months of the study. A (Altman 1974) and behaviour total of 123 individual vultures were sampling rules (Martin and Bateson recorded across the 10 visits. Of the 1986), both of which are adequate 123 birds, most birds (79) were for opportunistic records and were adults (Table 1). The number of used throughout the observations adult vultures sighted at a count whenever vultures were sighted ranged from 1 to 14 (7.9 ± 1.26 s.e.), during field visits. Birds were the number of sub-adults ranged spotted with the naked eye and from 1 to 4 (2.4 ± 0.37 s.e.) and behaviours were observed through juveniles from 1 to 5 (2.75 ± 0.45 10 × 48 binoculars from a distance of s.e.). Overall counts of all age 80 to 100 m. classes combined ranged from 2 to A questionnaire was used to 19 (12.3 ± 1.76 s.e). assess attitudes towards Egyptian 39 Vulture News 71 November 2016 Table 1: Counts of Egyptian vultures at silk processing sites and slaughterhouses in the Ramanagaram Hills December 2013 to May 2014 Months Count Adult Sub-adult Juveniles Total No. 1 6 2 4 12 December 2 10 1 5 16 1 1 1 0 2 January 2 5 2 2 9 1 10 4 3 17 March 2 6 2 0 8 1 13 4 2 19 April 2 9 3 1 13 1 5 0 3 8 May 2 14 3 2 19 Total 79 22 22 123 (Mean ± s.e.) (7.9 ±1.26) (2.4 ±0.37) (2.75 ±0.45) (12.3 ±1.76) Feeding associations At the silk separation sites, wastes are dumped into drainage Two types of feeding were observed areas and these wastes contain silk at silk separation sites: waste areas worms and larvae. These areas and feeding on worms and attract crows, herons, and egrets. invertebrates. In total, six species of More open and drying areas attract larger bird were recorded at silk Black Kites, Brahminy Kites and separation sites. The most numerous Egyptian Vultures. In these areas the birds at the silk separation sites were crows, herons and egrets are Brahminy Kites and Black Kites; displaced by the kites and vultures, Egyptian Vulture were the least so they generally feed in the drainage numerous (Table 2). wastage areas. 40 Vulture News 71 November 2016 Table 2: Counts of six species of larger bird at silk separation sites in the Ramanagaram Hills December 2013 to May 2014. Black Brahminy House Pond Cattle Egyptian Variables Kite Kite Crow Heron Egret Vulture Visits 10 10 10 10 10 10 Total 442 448 93 90 227 51 Min 31 33 10 3 16 2 Max 57 63 17 15 29 9 Mean (s.e.) 44(2.41) 49 (3.19) 13 (1.02) 9(1.35) 23 (1.48) 5 (0.67) Conservation perspectives on veterinarians interviewed were using Egyptian Vulture conservation the vulture-safe drug meloxicam for livestock. Although diclofenac is not Survey results showed that most available for veterinary use it is sold people (90.82%) have a favourable at pharmacies (n=4) for human use. opinion of vultures and consider Several respondents indicated that in conservation of vultures good for the Ramanagaram Hills, although nature because they keep the most people are Hindu and therefore ecosystem clean. Most people (63%, do not consume beef, there are a few n=38) considered that vultures are Muslim communities and in these Nature’s scavenger, although a areas there are a few slaughterhouses significant proportion (37%, n=22) and shops that sell beef.
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