Scientists have started a project of radio-tagging vultures in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve to study the movements and habits of these birds, an official has said.
Talking to reporters on Saturday, Panna Tiger Reserve’s field director claimed this is probably the first time that radio-tagging of vultures is being done in India.
The programme, which began two weeks back, is expected to go on for a month, he said. Though the radio-telemetry project was launched about 10 days ago ago, the actual tagging is likely to be held from December 5 to 10. Presently, a cage with a door has been put up at Jhalar grassland of the tiger reserve where baits of fresh meat are being laid to attract the birds.
“As many as 25 vultures are going to be radio-tagged in the Panna Tiger Reserve under a programme started with the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) so that a data could be generated about their movements and habits,” the official said.
Scientists of the WII took training from other countries for the exercise, he said.
There are seven species of vultures in PTR. Of these, four are native to this area, while three other are migratory species.
There were about 650 vultures of six species reported in the tiger reserve in the year 2018. Of these four are resident species while three are migratory. Out of the nine vulture species found in the country—Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long billed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Indian Griffon Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Cinereous Vulture, Slender billed Vulture, Red Headed Vulture and Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier—the first six are found in the Panna Tiger Reserve, including the endangered White-backed Vulture and Long billed Vulture.
“Vultures cover long distances, not only from other states, but also from one country to another. This study will find out how they reach PTR or go to other places and what are their routes and habits,” Sharma said.
As per the WII programme, a cage with a door has been put up at PTR’s Jhalar grassland where baits of fresh meat will be laid inside to attract the birds.
“The process of radio-tagging will be done once vultures become habitual of taking meat put inside the cage,” the official said.