A two-day synchronous survey conducted across selected vantage points in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) recorded 65 vultures, including 54 white-rumped vultures and 11 red-headed vultures.
The survey was jointly organised by the Kerala Forest department, Wayanad Wildlife Division, WWF-India, and the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology. Forty-two birdwatchers, researchers, students, and wildlife enthusiasts from different parts of the State participated in the survey. They were divided into nine teams and conducted simultaneous observations at seven vantage points spread across the sanctuary’s four forest ranges.
A total of 243 vultures were recorded in 108 observations during the survey.
Since vultures are wide-ranging birds, the possibility of the same bird being recorded more than once at different vantage points was taken into account during the analysis. The observations were examined based on factors such as the time of the sighting, distance from the observation point, flight direction, and movement patterns. The analysis estimated that 65 distinct vultures had been recorded during the survey.
Situated within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the WWS remains a crucial refuge for these critically endangered scavengers. Its connectivity with extensive forest areas and the availability of food, including carcasses of large mammals, make it a suitable habitat for vultures.
Officials said the survey underlined the importance of Wayanad as a habitat for vultures in Keralam. Continued monitoring is essential to understand their population, movement patterns, and emerging threats, including poisoning and electrocution.
The findings are expected to provide valuable baseline data for future monitoring and conservation efforts.
