Vulture Colony in Zampodar Village, Gujarat, India – VANISHES!!!!

An entire #Vulture colony at Zampodar village in Rajula Taluka of Amreli district, #Gujarat, #India which had been a roosting and nesting site for nearly 31 #WhiteRompedVultures, has gone missing for past two months.

“We had early spotted 31 Vultures, mostly White Romped Vultures, at Zampodar village in Rajula Taluka. It was a traditional Vulture colony. But, not a single vulture is found here since the past two months. It is unusual and shocking. We fear that it may have just vanished,” said #RuchiDave, Vulture #Conservationist and honorary #wildlife warden, Bhavnagar District.

“During the last survey, more than 81 vultures were spotted in the Mahuva-Nageshri range. Now, we need to find out the cause behind the disappearance (of the colony)” said Dave. Vultures are endangered species and falls under the schedule one category of Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972. “The forest department should appoint a monitoring committee to look into the matter and prepare scientific status report about the missing Vulture colony,” she added.

Dave said the Mahuva-Nagashri and Rajula ranges on #Saurashtra coast are a few of the last sites for vultures in the state where they roost and nest on coconut trees.

Wildlife activists fear that further negligence could lead to the complete disappearance to these birds. In fact, there is no regular monitoring mechanism for vultures by the forest department. “There are no measures in place to rescue and treat ill vultures and monitor vanishing ones. In 2006, 31 vultures were found dead. The same thing can happen again. Before things get worst, we need to act fast,” Dave said.

Dave has been actively involved in vulture conservation and is a member of #BirdConservationSociety Gujarat (BCSG) which runs a feeding site for vultures at Asharana village.

However, the forest department is not aware of the entire episode. When contacted, J.K. Makwana, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Amreli district, said, “We have come to know about it from local volunteers and we have asked the local forest department to look into the matter”.

Sources said there are three major Panjrapols – (Animal Shelters) in the area Rajula Chhaparivaku and Nalga where vultures can be given animal carcasses feed. “But, vultures do not land there for various reasons… So there is a need to develop a few more feeding sites,” said Dave.

“Mostly, local voluntary groups are monitoring the vultures’ activity with the help of the forest department. We have also asked local volunteers to submit a project plan to carry out the conservation work,” said Bharat Pathak, Director, GEER Foundation, which monitors vanishing Vulture species.

Apart from missing the vulture colony, sources confirmed that six vultures have had died since January 2011. They include three White Romped Vultures in Mahuva-Rajula range and three #Long-Billed Vultures in Girnar. “As of now, we do not know the exact reasons for the death of these vultures but we have sent two samples for analysis at #PinjoreVultureBreedingCenter. We would be able to know the exact reason once the report arrives.” said Dave.

Courtesy :- Times Of India.

India Goverment okays Eco-Sensitive zones around 4 Sanctuaries in Gujarat

Gujarat’s #wildlife just got a new lease of life. The central government on Thursday declared the setting up of #eco-sensitive zones in a five km radius around four important sanctuaries- #Gir, Purna in the Dangs, Vasda National Park in Navsari and Narayan Sarovar in Kutch.

The Supreme Court had directed the state government to identify eco-sensitive zones around wildlife reserves. The Center’s stamp of approval came in Thursday.

The new guidelines on eco-sensitive zones ban construction. Mining, other industrial activities and other tourism activities in these areas. Felling of trees, change of agricultural systems, commercial use of natural water resources, setting up of #hotels and #resorts, flying over in an aircraft or hot air balloon, discharge of effluents and solid waste in natural water bodies will be regulated.

Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the minstery is also considering #Balaram-Ambaji in #Banaskantha, #MarineNationalPark, #Jamnagar and #Shoolpaneshwar sanctuaries for similar zones.

Ramesh in a letter to chief minister Narendra Modi, said he hoped to finalize them in the next four weeks, Balaram – Ambaji sanctuary is know for #slothbears while Shoolpaneshwar has #four-hornedAntelope and #BarkingDeerPopulation.

Monitoring of the zones will be done by a committee headed by the district collector. Other members will include a representative from the Union ministry of environment and forests, regional officer of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, the local town planner and the deputy conservator of forests.

The notification issued for Gir Sanctuary says 8318 hectares have been declared eco-sensitive in Junagadh and Bhesan talukas of Junagadh District.

In #NarayanSarovar, 22588 hectares of Abdasa, Lakhpat, Nakhatrana talukas in Kutch are now eco-sensitive zone of Purna sanctuary will cover Ahwa and #Songadh while that of #VansdaSanctuary will cover parts of #Ahwa, #Vansda and #Vyara.

Courtesy:- Times Of India, May 13th, 2011, Friday.