Latest census shows that vultures are making a comeback in Tamil Nadu

Vultures play an important role in keeping the ecosystems healthy because they are basically scavengers and feed on the carcasses of dead animals. The corrosive acid in their stomach saves the surroundings from the effects of decomposing carcasses infected with a variety of diseases like anthrax, cholera, botulinum toxin and rabies. In the opinion of ecologists, vultures are a species that we need for survival.
However, out of nine species found in India, most are in danger of extinction. An example is the white-rumped vulture (Gyps Bengalensis) - up to the 1980s there were 80 million in India. Today there are hardly a few thousand left.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 16 April 2016.

This species has had the fastest population collapse of any bird species in recorded history. This is usually attributed to the rampant of two types of insecticides that are lethal to these birds. One of these is endosulfan (India is the largest producer of the toxin) and the other, the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac which is used mainly for veterinary purposes.
A two-day vulture census in Tamil Nadu in the Nilgiris North Forest division and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) has revealed that there has been a marginal increase in the population of three vulture species. In the course of a headcount, teams of foresters and birders recorded 120 white-rumped vultures, 20 long-billed vultures and a dozen red-headed or king vultures at both sites. A similar census conducted last year had put the total number for all three species at 140.
The census was carried out by foresters in February last year and in April this year.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Moody’s policy – love thy neighbor (satire)

Lord Shiva wants to be the King of good times (satire)

Narad queers the pitch for Didi & Co (satire)


France continues to attract tourists despite the terror attacks

Summer sees high occupancy rates in Kanpur cinema halls

Five killed in sightseeing helicopter crash near Great Smokey Mountains National Park


ISIS still holding 30 workers out of 300 kidnapped from cement factory in Dumeir

Another Bangladeshi blogger killed in Dhaka because of his views on religion

Florida hunters bag a 15-foot 800-pound massive alligator


Indonesian pop star dies after being bitten by a cobra on stage

Tom Hiddleston denies that he would be next James Bond

“Sicario 2” - Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro will team up again