Flock of critically endangered vultures feed on deer carcass at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Large flock of white-rumped vultures feast on carcass of a spotted deer
A video showing a large flock of white-rumped vultures feasting on the carcass of a spotted deerat a restricted location inthe Mudumalai Tiger Reserve has enthused wildlife enthusiasts and conservators alike.
According to forest officials, thesighting of a large flock of critically endangered vultures(scavengers) indicates not only the increasing vulture populationbut is also a sign of a significant Tiger (predator) population, both of which are said to be the resultof successful conservation efforts.
Officials suspect that the deer kill was by a tiger in the region. They believe thathad the deer been hunted by a leopard it would havetaken the carcass atop a tree branch. Tree branches are unreachable spots for wide-winged vulturesthat often perch only on treetops.
Likewise, in the case of a pack of wild dogs or dholes hunting an animal, only the bones would remain. However, the carcass being left behind for the vultures to feedindicates the hunting style of the tigersthat often involves leaving the kill behind.
As per the latest 2019-20 census for the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve,there are sevenlong-billed vultures, twoEgyptian vultures and 125 white-rumped vultures.
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The abundant availability of feed for scavengers such as vulturesis said to be an ample indicator of a healthy predator(carnivore) population and an overall conducive ecosystem.
In the 1980s, the white-jumped vulture was abundantly spotted across South and South EastAsiawhen their global population was in millions. However, their numbers fell sharply and recent estimates point out that there are just a little over 10,000 such mature birds around the world.
According to reports, a major reason for the vulture population in the South Asia region has been the widespread use of the drug ‘Diclofenac’for the treatment of common ailments, pain, wounds in cattle and swine.
Vultures that feed on carcasses that contain traces of the drugdie of kidney failure as their blood crystallises around the organs. Despite the ban on the drug in the country since 2006, it is reportedly in use across parts of India. In certain cases, the carcasses that are purposefully laced with poison to kill tigersend up claiming the lives of vultures as well.
The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Diclofenac is not alone in indirectly claiming vulture lives,other unsafe drugs like Aceclofenac, Ketoprofen and Nimesulide also are regarded as dangerous andtoxic for vultures.
