Pramod G. Krishnan, Chief Conservator of Forest (wildlife), northern circle, will inaugurate the workshop at 9.30 a.m. on the day. The programme envisaged to use the results of ongoing research and conservation programmes on vultures and develop a comprehensive vulture conservation programme for south Indian landscape, P. Dhanesh Kumar, Warden, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, said.

Decline in population

“Vulture population in India has witnessed a catastrophic population decline due to various reasons and today, it is considered as one of the critically endangered species on earth,” says C.K Vishnudas, conservation biologist, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru. The majority of the remaining population of vultures in south India was confined to the Wayanad-Mudumalai-Bandipur forest complex. Less than 100 pairs of White-rumped vultures and about 10-20 red-headed vultures were surviving in the landscape, Mr. Vishnudas added .

The programme would discuss various threats being faced by the scavenger bird population and strategies to be formulated for conservation including ban of drugs such as Ketoprofen, which proved to be harmful to vultures, he added. Ornithologists including C. Sasikumar, Mr. Vishnudas and R.L. Ratheesh, will handle various sessions on the topic.

“The sanctuary has given high priority for vulture conservation,” Mr. Dhaneshkumar said, adding that the department was planning to execute a comprehensive vulture conservation programme in the sanctuary, as a larger landscape alone could ensure the survival of the remaining vulture population in the country.