Sighting of Red-headed Vultures (<i>Sarcogyps calvus</i>) in a group

Abstract

Asian vultures are endangered birds included in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. From the nine species of vultures found in India, five are reported from the Bundelkhand region in central India. An exhaustive survey was done in the Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, from January to June 2016. Red-headed Vultures (Sarcogyps calvus) are solitary in nature but during the survey we collectively sighted a total of 12 Red-headed Vultures in Panna Tiger Reserve, whilst eight were recorded in the region between Hinauta and Dhudhua Seha in one group. Red-headed Vultures are facing serious threats of habitat loss and lack of food availability along with diclofenac poisoning, and they require various conservation measures to maintain their population.