Long-Billed Vulture (Gyps indicus)
Why in news?
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Maharashtra Forest Department tagged 15 long-billed vultures at Melghat Tiger Reserve on December 19, 2025, using 11 GSM tags and 4 satellite PTT tags to track their movements post-release. These solar-powered tags monitor travel distance, safety, and survival, with blue leg rings marking them as Indian releases from Maharashtra.
About
The Long-Billed Vulture (Gyps indicus), also known as the Indian Vulture, is a critically endangered bird of prey native to the Indian subcontinent. Its population has declined by nearly 97–99% due to poisoning from the veterinary drug diclofenac, making conservation efforts urgent.
Key Facts About the Long-Billed Vulture
- Scientific Name: Gyps indicus
- Family: Accipitridae (Old World vultures)
- Appearance: Medium-sized, bulky scavenger with a semi-bald head, long beak, and broad dark wings.
- Habitat: Found in savannas, cliffs, hilly crags, and open areas near villages and cultivated lands.
- Distribution: Native to India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
- Diet: Feeds primarily on carcasses of dead animals, playing a vital ecological role as a scavenger.
- Breeding: Nests in colonies on cliffs, ruins, and occasionally trees.
- Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List since 2002).
Conservation Challenges
- Diclofenac Poisoning: The main cause of decline; vultures ingest the drug from livestock carcasses, leading to kidney failure.
- Habitat Loss: Urbanization and reduced nesting sites threaten survival.
- Slow Reproduction: Vultures lay only one egg per year, making recovery difficult.
Download Pdf
