Vijay Jamwal, a tunnel construction and geo-technical expert was working on an Indian Railways tunnel project in Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir valley when he spotted a committee of vultures sitting around and probably finishing their meal. Vijay soon got busy with his camera and send us, some incredible images of the Himalayan Griffon Vultures. The birds seemed oblivious to the presence of this admirer and his photography allowing him to take many close up shots.
Vultures are scavenger birds, critical to the sustenance of an ecosystem because they eat carrions or dead animals and help stop the spread of epidemics. But last few decades have brought death in thousands for vultures in the Indian subcontinent because of the use of a pain-killer drug called diclofenac that was often given to livestock. When the birds fed on the dead carrions of these animals, they died due to poisoning.
While strong measures including banning of the drug has helped raise the population of the vultures, three vulture species are still critically endangered namely – White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) and the Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris).
The Himalyan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) though has largely been unaffected by the drug because of its high mountain habitat. Here are some of the great shots shared by an aware ‘citizen scientist’.
All images have been clicked by Vijay Jamwal. If you wish to share similar images taken in the wild, do send us a mail through our contact page.
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I have clicked a vulchure in Tanakpur on 28.11.14.wish to share and eager to kknow more about vulchers and eagles.
That is really excellent! Please send us a mail to contact@indiasendangered.com and attach the photograph. We would be glad to publish it here.
i found similar vultures near my house, sitting on two trees, more than 20 vultures, its raining here may be due to heavy snowfall in upper reaches of jammu, they had migrated here.
Fascinating creatures