Sensitising tourists to dangers facing vultures
In order to sensitise tourists to the threats facing vulture populations across the country, an awareness board was erected by conservation group, Arulagam, with the support of the Tirupur Information Technology Association (TITA) at Kodanad view point on Sunday. “There are three species of vultures which are regularly sighted at Moyar, Ebbanad and Kodanad area - white backed vulture, red-headed vulture and long-billed vulture. All of them are critically endangered. This board was erected to commemorate the 4th year of the bike rally for the cause of vulture conservation,” said S. Bharathidasan, secretary of Arulagam.
The awareness board was unveiled by honorary wildlife warden, C. Badrasamy.
Sumesh Soman, District Forest Officer, Nilgiris Division, B. Ramakrishnan, Asst Prof, Government Arts College, and members of TITA (Tirupur Information Technology Association) were present, along with noted ornithologists, members from Arulagam and Vulture Conservation Working Group- South India.
Speaking about the threats vultures face, especially from feeding on the carcasses of cattle which have been administered anti-inflammatory drugs like dicolfenac, Mr. Bharathidasan said that these drugs, along with other painkillers like aceclofenac, flunixin, ketoprofen and Carprofen can be lethal to vultures.
He also called for the continuous and coordinated efforts between the forest department, animal husbandry department and cattle owners, which are needed for protecting the vultures.
