Studies on some aspects of ecobiology of the resident Gyps species of vulture in Hazaribag district Jharkhand

Abstract

newline Vultures are the most efficient scavengers of nature. Nine species of vultures newlinefound in the Indian sub-continent. Once vultures were most common species in newlineIndia however, the population of Gyps species has drastically declined by over 99% in few newlinedecade. newlineThe present study carried out between 2012-13 to 2015-16, deals with some aspects newlineof the ecobiology of the resident Gyps vulture in Hazaribag district of Jharkhand. Of the total newlinefive vulture species recorded in the Jharkhand, two resident Gyps species namely critically newlineendangered G. bengalensis and G. indicus have been recorded. newlineThe maximum number of G. bengalensis and G. indicus recorded in Hazaribag district newlinewas about 194 in 2012-13, 173 in 2013-14, 170 in 2014-15 and 159 in 2015-16. newlineThe roosting and nesting sites of resident Gyps spp. were identified mainly in 4 blocks newlineof Hazaribag district namely Sadar, Katkamdag, Katkamsandi and Barkagaon blocks. A total newlineof 106 nesting sites of G. bengalensis having 194 nests were recorded on 10 species of trees. newlineThe most preferred nesting trees were Borassus flabellifer, Eucalyptus globulus and newlineDalbergia sissoo. The minimum height of nest from the ground level was 15 feet and newlinemaximum was 70 feet. The girth of the nesting trees was recorded between 3.9 -26 ft. newlineG. bengalensis invariably raised only one nestling per nest. The estimated incubation newlineperiod recorded was 54.72 days. The nesting success was 36.17% and 26.92 % on the basis newlineof active nests and occupied nests respectively. The nestling success was 98.04 %. The newlineaverage nestling period being 102.72 days. Time-activity budgets of adult and nestling of G. newlinebengalensis was also studied on various activities viz. nest building, incubation, nest guarding, newlinebasking, resting, preening, scanning, exercise and calling. newlineThe biochemical investigations on the tissues, revealed that most of the vulture deaths newlinein Hazaribag district had occurred due to the presence of lethal concentration of diclofenac. newlineIn the present study an action plan for vulture conservation has been formulated. newline