The State Government will conduct State-wide vulture census in 2 phases in year 2016 to protect near-extinct natural scavenger vulture.

The first phase of census will be held on January 23 and the second in May 2016. On the basis of figures and data collected during census, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will prepare Regional Vulture Atlas. Strategies to preserve vultures and vulture's nests will be chalked out on the basis of this atlas.

State-wide vulture census is being held in the State for the first time. In the surveys conducted so far, 592 vulture nests have been found in 30 districts. Of these, maximum 80 vulture nests have been found in Sheopur district, Chhindwara 68 and 59 in Sheopur district. Besides, vulture nests have also been found in Bhopal, Sehore, Vidisha, Raisen, Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Datia, Gwalior, Morena, Dindori, Jabalpur, Mandla, Rewa, Satna, Sidhi, Damoh, Sagar, Umaria, Shahdol, Ashok Nagar, Guna, Shivpuri, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Mandsaur, Neemuch and Hoshangabad districts.

Indian Institute of Forest Management has conducted vulture census training programmes at Bhopal, Indore, Seoni, Jabalpur, Chhatarpur and Shivpuri. Besides, forest circle level workshops will also be held from January 1 to 15.

Individuals and organisations may also take part in vulture census. For this, concerning DFO may be contacted. For further information, APCCF (Wildlife) and Nodal Officer, State-wide Vulture Census Shahbaz Ahmad may be contacted on mobile number 9424790022, Professor of Indian Institute of Forest Management KK Jha on 9425609902 and Tourism Manager Gyan Prakash Shukla on mobile number 9827625091.