In a first, Wayanad’s vultures surveyed

 E.M. Manoj, KALPETTA
The Hindu,  January 17, 2019

The first-ever vulture and raptor survey that concluded in the Wayanad landscape recently recorded 24 species of raptors and four species of vultures.
The three-day programme, organised by the Forest and Wildlife Department, was held in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) and two territorial forest divisions, including the South and North Wayanad Forest Divisions.
Raptors come under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and have apex predator status in an ecosystem.
The Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) was spotted at Kakkapadom under the Muthanga forest range of the sanctuary after five years, N.T Sajan, warden,WSS, said.
“Nearly 100 white-rumped vultures, including 34 at Kakkapadom and 35 at Narimanthykolly in the Tholpetty forest range, were spotted during the survey. While 15 red-headed vultures and an Indian vulture were sighted at Kakkapadom, a Himalayan griffon was spotted at Narimanthikkolly,” Mr. Sajan, who supervised the survey, said.
Sixty-four wildlife enthusiasts across the State, including 10 students of the Centre for Wildlife Studies, Pookode, and 10 students from the College of Forestry at Vellanikkara, took part in the survey. Sixteen base camps were set across the landscape for the purpose.

Major species

The major species of raptors recorded during the survey included Legge’s hawk eagle, Oriental honey buzzard, Shikra, Booted eagle, Common kestrel, Crested- hawk eagle, Short-toed snake eagle, Black eagle, Lesser-fish eagle, Crested-goshawk, Jerdons baza, Common buzzard, Grey-headed fish eagle, Greater -spotted eagle, Shaheen falcon, and Eurasian sparrow hawk, O.Vishnu, wildlife biologist, WWS, said.

Owl species

Five species of owls, including jungle owlet, brown fish owl, oriental scops owl, and barn owl, were also recorded during the survey, Mr. Vishnu added .
Sandeep Das, research fellow, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur; Roshnath Ramesh, research fellow, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod; R.L. Rabish, College of Veterinary Science, Pookode; and Ashok Kumar, Centre for Wildlife, Pookode; led various camps.
Ornithologist Sathyan Meppayur conducted an orientation session on vulture and raptor identification.