World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

UNREMITTING EFFECT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON THE SURVIVING VULTURE POPULATION IN BUNDELKHAND REGION, INDIA

Dr. Sonika Kushwaha* and Akhilesh Kumar

ABSTRACT

Birds are an integral part of the whole system of life on this earth. There are endless incidences when animals suffered due to never-ending desires and thoughtlessness of human beings. A recent example is the decline in vulture population. This study was undertaken from 2014-2017 to present the overall view of the unremitting effect of human activities on the surviving vulture population in Bundelkhand Region. Field visits and questionnaire were undertaken to carry out the study. Two type of questionnaire were developed (Precise and Closed; Broad and Open ended). After the ban of Diclofenac for animals (the main suspect of vulture decline) in 2006 and the notification regarding the single unit dose pack of diclofenac for humans in 2015, there are several other reasons that are adversely affecting the vulture population. The foremost of these are pruning of the large nesting trees by the villagers, loss of the local profession of de-skinning dead cattle, their inappropriate dumping (burying, disposal in water bodies), no apt action for the uncontrolled population of feral dogs that hinder the feed of vultures, the unnecessary lightening of monuments where vultures are nesting, use of drones in such sites without permission, consent for shooting schedules in the monuments during breeding period. The mining activities are also a major threat to the vulture population residing in the rocky cliffs. These are causing unremitting effect on vulture population due to human activities. It is highly recommended to the concerned departments to take urgent actions and to co-ordinate amongst them so as to bring to a halt the dwindling vulture population.

[Full Text Article]   [Download Certificate]