Egyptian Vulture Near Disappearance in Tamil Nadu

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Egyptian Vulture Near Disappearance in Tamil Nadu

Environment
Egyptian Vulture Near Disappearance in Tamil Nadu

Conservationists raise alarm over the near disappearance, described as functionally extinct, of the Egyptian vulture from Tamil Nadu. The Bombay Natural History Society proposes to the Tamil Nadu government to establish an Egyptian Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus):

Dimension Key Details
Common name Common name is Egyptian vulture.
Scientific name Scientific name is Neophron percnopterus.
Family Family is Accipitridae.
Size It comprises the smallest of the Old-World vultures, measuring about 55–65 cm in length with a wingspan of 1.5 to 1.7 metres.
Habitat It thrives in open, arid, and semi-arid landscapes, preferring grasslands, savannas, and mountainous regions.
Distribution It comprises distribution across Southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Indian subspecies and migration Indian subspecies comprises Neophron percnopterus ginginianus (resident), and migrants from Africa and the Middle East visit in winter.
Appearance It comprises a bald, bright yellow-to-orange face, a slender, black-tipped beak, and a spiked neck ruff.
Ecological role It provides for removal of animal carcasses, maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Human community linkage Kota tribes’ leather-working practices unintentionally support vulture populations by providing carcasses.
Threats Decline is caused by veterinary drugs, electrocution from power lines, accidental poisoning, nesting cliff disturbance, and reduced natural food due to changing livestock practices.
Diclofenac and NSAIDs Diclofenac and NSAIDs’ presence in cattle carcasses poisons vultures, causing kidney failure and mass population decline.
IUCN Red List status IUCN Red List status is Endangered.
CITES status CITES listing comprises Appendix II.
Indian legal protection Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 listing comprises Schedule I.
BNHS proposal Bombay Natural History Society has proposed to the Tamil Nadu government to establish an Egyptian Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme.
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Attempt Possible Qs

Q 1 / 3
With reference to the Egyptian vulture, consider the following statements:
1. It is the smallest of the Old-World vultures.
2. It measures about 55–65 cm in length.
3. It has a wingspan of about 2.5 to 3 metres.
Which of the statements given above are correct?