VULTURE OF PAKISTAN

PRESENTED BY: IMAD-UL-DIN ZANGI

INTRODUCTION Vulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved,

usually scavenging birds of prey.

The new world vultures (North and South America) and the old world vultures(Europe, Africa and Asia).

Particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald head, that may play an important role in thermoregulation (ward et al., 2008).

Vultures perform a vital role in nature’s sanitation processes by tearing meat from carcasses before it rots.

Old world vultures are long-lived, have low reproductive rates, high adult survival and a low juvenile survival (Wynne-Edwards 1955; Amadon 1964; Piper et al., 1981).

Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes

CLASSIFICATION

VULTURES OF PAKISTAN

There are eight Vulture species in Pakistan. Seven are Native to Pakistan.

One (King/ Indian Black vulture) is vagrant. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopyrtus)

Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)

White backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

King/ Indian Black vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)

Cinereous/ Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monach)

Long billed/ Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)

Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis)

Bearded Vulture/Lammergeyer (Gypaetus barbatus)

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopyrtus)

Habitat and Ecology: Typically nests on ledges or in caves on cliffs , crags and rocky outcrops, but occasionally also in large trees, buildings, electricity pylons and exceptionally on the ground. Forages in lowland and montane regions over open, often arid, country. Also scavenges at human settlements.

Found in Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Status: Endangered (IUCN) Date Assessed: 2014-07-24 Assessor(s): Birdlife International Population Trend: Decreasing

Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)

Habitat and Ecology: It is a species of expansive open areas in a wide array of environments, from mountains to semi-desert, and is recorded regularly from sea level up to c.3,000 m.

Behavior: Some birds are migratory, although many others are resident or nomadic.

Breeding site: The nest is usually built on a rocky outcrop, with sheltered ledges or small caves preferred.

Status: Least Concern (IUCN) Date Assessed: 2013-11-01 Population Trend: Increasing

White backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

Habitat and Ecology: It occurs mostly in plains and less frequently in hilly regions where it utilizes light woodland, villages, cities, and open areas. It feeds on carrion, both putrid and fresh. While feeding considerable aggregations can form, and regular communal roost sites are used. It is social and usually found in conspecific flocks. It breeds in colonies in tall trees, often near human habitation.

Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN) Date Assessed: 2014-07-24 Population Trend: Decreasing

King/ Indian Black vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)

Habitat and Ecology: It frequents open country usually away from human habitation, well-wooded hills and dry deciduous forest with rivers, usually below 2,500 m. Nesting has been recorded in tall trees.

Vagrant: Pakistan

Native: Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; India; Myanmar; Nepal; Thailand; Viet Nam

Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN) Date Assessed: 2013-11-01 Population Trend: Decreasing

Cinereous/ Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monach)

Habitat and Ecology: The species inhabits forested areas in hills and mountains in Asia, where it occupies scrub and arid and semi-arid alpine steppe and grasslands up to 4,500m (Thiollay 1994).

It forages over many kinds of open terrain, including forest, bare mountains, steppe and open grasslands. Nests are built in trees or on rocks.

Status: Near Threatened (IUCN) Date Assessed: 2013-11-01 Population Trend: Decreasing

Long billed/ Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus)

Habitat and Ecology: It is found in cities, towns and villages near cultivated areas, and in open and wooded areas.

This species feeds almost entirely on carrion, and often associates with White-rumped Vulture G. bengalensis when scavenging at rubbish dumps and slaughterhouses.

Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN) Date Assessed: 2013-11-01 Population Trend: Decreasing

Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis)

Habitat and Ecology: This species inhabits mountainous areas, mostly at 1,200-4,500 m, but has been recorded up to 6,000 m (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).

In winter it moves lower down, with juveniles wandering into the plains.

History: Least Concern 2012 (IUCN) Status: Near Threatened (IUCN) Date Assessed: 2014-07-24 Population Trend: Stable

Bearded Vulture/Lammergeyer (Gypaetus barbatus)

Behaviour: It is resident where is occurs, but has vast home ranges, and juveniles will wander even more widely than adults (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).

Habitat The species occupies remote, mountainous areas, with precipitous terrain, usually above 1,000 m, and in particular areas where large predators such as wolves and Golden Eagles are present, and there are herds of mammals such as mountain goats, ibex, and sheep.

Diet: The species will forage over vast distances (up to 700 km in one day has been recorded), using a soaring flight. Its principle food is carrion.

History: Least Concern 2013-14 (IUCN) Status: Near Threatened Date Assessed: 2014-07-24 Population Trend: Decreasing

Vultures in Balochistan Egyptian Vultures

Eurasian Griffon

Cinereous vultures/ Eurasian Black Vulture

Vultures in KP Himalayan Griffon Vulture

Vultures in Punjab Egyptian vulture

Griffon Vulture

White-backed vulture

Vultures in Sindh Egyptian Vulture.

Griffon Vulture.

White-backed vulture.

King Vultures.

Cinereous Vulture/Eurasian Black Vulture.

Long billed vulture.

Major Threats•Non-target poisoning

•Direct persecution

•Habitat degradation

•Disturbance of breeding birds

•Inadequate food availability

•Changes in livestock-rearing practices

•Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

Gyps Vulture restoration Project

In 2004 WWF-Pakistan launched the Gyps Vulture Restoration Project in Pakistan.

The immediate project objective is to conserve a viable population of Gyps

bengalensis in a safe and secure environment. Once secured, the breeding potential

of the captive population must be realized.

Plans for Pakistan’s first conservation breeding facility for vultures began in 2005.

Government approval, land allocation, facility design, fundraising and staff selection

took place over the following 18 months.

Gyps Vulture Colonies in Punjab

Changa Manga (approximately 80 km south-west of Lahore)

Dholewala (approximately 90 km north-west of Multan)

Toawala (approximately 50 km northeast of Multan),

RecommendationsConduct coordinated surveys to monitor the species National population trend.

Assess the threat posed by diclofenac and other drugs used in livestock.

Assess the impacts of climate change on Vultures.

Reduce disturbance in and around nesting areas.

Mitigate against the impacts of power lines.

Combat the threat of persecution through laws and awareness-raising activities.

Provide feeding stations throughout the species range.

THANK YOU

QUESTIONS ?