Varied issues related to protection of vultures from electrocution hazards and contaminated carcasses in the Doon Valley were discussed with livestock carcass disposal workers and contractors of the region at a consultative workshop held on Thursday.
The Wildlife Trust of India in collaboration with the Uttarakhand Forest Department, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK) organised the workshop at the Jhajhra range of Dehradun forest division.
The participants were informed that the Haryana Forest Department and the BNHS are planning to release captive bred and reared vultures in the Morni Hills for the first time after a drastic drop in India’s vulture population.
located between 50 to 80 kilometres from the Morni hills, Dehradun is also important as the released vultures are expected to fly in to the Doon valley to feed on the livestock carcasses.
The carcass disposal workers, contractors and department personnel were told about the importance of first ensuring that cattle carcass dumping sites are located in safe zones free from electrocution hazards while also ensuring that the carcasses are free from Diclofenac contamination.
Various aspects were discussed to enable facilitation of a safe wintering location for the endangered vultures in Doon valley. Supporting the need for protecting vultures, the workers and contractors assured that they would support the forest department and the vulture research community.
They requested the State authorities through this workshop to facilitate allocation of permanent and safe livestock carcass dumping ground as presently they are facing considerable objection from villagers and others to dumping carcasses near the residential areas.
The contractors and workers also assured their support in case the state government is planning to create some vulture safe zones (VSZs), wherein they will provide carcass samples to check for Diclofenac contamination.
The carcass disposal contractors also suggested continuation of such consultative meets at Panchayat level to enable understanding of vulture conservation issues and requirements at the ground level. The Dehradun sub divisional officer Gul Vir Singh, WTI senior advisor BC Choudhury and vulture researchers from the Pinjore Vulture Conservation Centre of the BNHS were among those present on the occasion.