‘Extinct’ vultures make a comeback at Katarniya

Lucknow, August 26 Some five years ago, it was presumed that the vultures have almost gone extinct from the face of the country. But it seems that the nature’s scavengers have made a silent comeback.

The wildlife range at Katarniya Ghat in Behraich district that runs along the India-Nepal border has been blessed with vulture sightings.

Officials of the state Forest Department have spotted over three dozens vultures in the range in recent weeks. They have also spotted about 70 eggs in nests.

Divisional Forest Officer (Katarniya Ghat) Ramkrishna Singh said that it has been a month since they spotted vultures in different part of the range.

“Although one could often spot a pair or two of vultures here in the range, and we could not call these vultures totally extinct from this area, but in the last one week the numbers have visibly gone up,” Singh said.

Although the precise number of the vultures has not been calculated as yet, Singh said that there were around 40 nests in the entire range. “Areas like Nishangada and Katarniya have reported around 100 vultures,” said Singh.

Ornithologist from the Bombay Natural History Society Dr Asad Rehmani said that the Forest department should now ensure that diclofenac, the chemical responsible for decrease in the number of vultures, is not used anywhere in the surrounding villages.