Not only for the State, it is also good news for the country. During the vulture census undertaken in Panna tiger reserve from February 5 to 8, 2015 as many as 1698 vultures were found. These include 1268 local, 289 migratory, 17 Peregrine Falcon 124 other kinds of vulture. This time, vulture census was also held for the first time in Udla area of Panna Buffer and Pawai area of South Panna forest division in which 295 vultures were found.
During the census in the reserve last year 910 vultures were found including 674 local and 211 migratory ones. The number of local vultures has almost doubled this year. The number of long-billed vultures has also increased from 484 to 1191 and their 398 live nests have also been found. As many as 295 vultures were found in the census for the first time in Pawai forest division including 150 local and 141 migratory ones. These included 62 long-billed, 46 white-backed, one Egyptian, 41 red-headed, 69 Eurasian Griffins, 12 Himalayan Griffins, 60 Sinerous and 4 vultures of other specifies.
Vulture census is being held in Panna tiger reserve since 2010. Since year 2011, this work was being undertaken under PPP mode. This year's census was held through a highly credible system, Standard Operation Procedure (SOP). GPS system was also used to further increase the credibility of the census. At all 28 counting centres under SOP, census was undertaken by prescribing different norms including geographical, local, environmental etc. Telescopes were also used.
Apart from vultures, a number of their nests were also counted through SOP system effectively. Arun Wais Reddy and Kirti Kumar Anumoola of Hyderabad played an important role in evolving this system. Bird specialists of the country are involved in vulture census. This year, 127 applications were received from 13 States of which 68 applicants from 12 States and 12 local guides were selected for the census. They were also imparted training before the census at Hinautiya and Dhundhwa.
Of the local vultures found in the census 1191 are long-billed, 45 white-backed, 12 Egyptian and 20 red-headed ones while among migratory vultures, 139 were Eurasian Griffins, 144 Himalayan Griffins, one Cinerous, 124 others and 17 Peregrine Falcons.