Context:
Rare sighting of the Indian Long-Billed Vulture (Indian Vulture) at Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary.
Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary:
- Situated in – Ramadevara Betta Hill Range in Karnataka.
- India’s 1st and only vulture sanctuary established in 2012.
- Home to 3 of the 9 vulture species found in India — Indian Long-Billed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, and White-Backed Vulture
Long-Billed Vulture:
- Medium-sized bird of prey native to the Indian subcontinent.
- Also known as the Indian vulture or Indian Griffon.
- Distribution & Habitat – Found in India and South East Pakistan.
- Nests in small colonies, usually on cliffs, constructed with sticks and lined with green leaves and rubbish.
- Conservation Status –
- IUCN – Critically Endangered.
- CITES – Appendix II.
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule 1.
- Threats – Forest fires, Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like diclofenac in treating cattle, Retaliatory poisoning of predators by farmers.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) the destruction of their nesting sites by new invasive species.
(b) a drug used by cattle owners for treating their diseased cattle.
(c) scarcity of food available to them.
(d) a widespread, persistent and fatal disease among them .
Answer: (b)