Critically endangered vulture species spotted again
The Asian King vulture has been spotted in the Sonaripur range in Uttar Pradesh’s Dudhwa National Park.
Climate change and human interference have made it tough for many species across the planet. Science has revealed that a whole lot of animals, birds, plants and other organisms have perished due to the excessive pressure than has been thrust upon their lives.
In the midst of all such bad news, comes information that feels like a whiff of fresh air. The news comes from the heartland of India, and it says that a critically endangered vulture species has been sighted.
The critically endangered vulture species, which is also known as the Asian King vulture has been spotted in the Sonaripur range in Uttar Pradesh’s Dudhwa National Park, according to a news report.
The vulture had vanished since quite long
Experts say that sighting of the Asian King vulture, scientifically christened as ‘Sarcogyps calvus’ has much significance. This is because, the bird had gone off from public view for quite long. And now, after almost a decade, one of the vultures being spotted again brings much joy.
The bird sighting is of course a major encouragement to the wildlife conservation and habitat management efforts undertaken by the Dudhwa National Park, the report has stressed. The sighting comes as utmost significant because International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed the red-headed Asian king vulture as critically endangered and has included it in the red list.
The critically endangered vulture species was spotted perching on a tree top close to the base camp at Dudhwa. This was indeed a surprise as the bird had vanished into oblivion some time ago.
Sighting assumes much significance
The biologist who had the chance sighting of the red-headed Asian King vulture made it a point to record it oh his camera. The Dudhwa National Park authorities were soon informed of the sighting and the images shared with them.
The important sighting of the Asian King vulture yet again has infused hopes of seeing the bird survive again. The Dudhwa National Park already has floated a breeding centre at Maharajganj in a bid to protect and conserve the species.
Vultures are extremely significant in biodiversity conservation as they happen to be natural scavengers and their act of feeding on animal carcasses has proved immensely helpful in protecting the environment from pollution. Weighing around 3.5 to 6.3 kg, the Asian King vulture has a wing span of around 1.99-to-2.6-metres.