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Vol. XXVII No. 9, September 2012 ISSN 0971-6378 (Print); 0973-2543 (Online)

Magazine of Zoo Outreach Organisation

Date of Publication: 21 September 2012

International Vulture Awareness Day (1st Sept 2012) IVAD was celebrated in South Asia by a number of zoos and breeding centres which feature vultures, See Pp. 1-17

Magazine of Zoo Outreach OrganisationVol. XXVII No. 9, September 2012 ISSN 0971-6378 (Print); 0973-2543 (Online)

Feature articlesReports on the International Vulture Awareness Day Celebration in South Asia, Pp. 1-17

Education Report, P.18

Technical articlesAn avifaunal survey of the Jhalawar range of Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, India, Anant Pande, Pp. 19-22

Sighting of Black Stork Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus, 1758) in Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary: An addition to the birds of Odisha, Devi P. Sahu & Himashu S. Palei, P. 23

New plants records from Marudhamalai hills of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu State. (India), Vijay A. Paithane and A.S.Bhuktar, Pp. 24-26

The Indian Alliance for Zero Extinction, P. 26

ZOO Lex -- Ranthambore National Park : Tigers at Ranthambore, Akanksha Chowdhary Monica Fiby & Brij Kishore Gupta, Pp. 27-32.

AnnouncementKerala State Veterinary University Offers a New MS Programme in Wildlife Studies, Back Cover

Contents

ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXVII, Number 9, September 2012 1

International Vulture Awareness Day1st September 2012

International Vulture Awareness Day IVAD was celebrated in South Asia by a number of zoos and breeding centres which feature vultures. Zoo Outreach Organisation contacted all the vulture holding institutions informing them of International Vulture Awareness Day, an event we wrote about in the August issue, and sending the entire “kit” from the IVAD founders and referring them to the internet site. ZOO also created a South Asia appropriate packet for institutions holding these beleaguered birds to use in conducting programmes for visitors and/or students.

The Central Zoo Authority had just featured one of the IUCN Red List Critically Endangered vulture species on the cover of its newsletter. CZA supports the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme to breed this species of vulture at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore in Haryana.

Rengaswamy Marimuthu, ZOO Education Officer coordinated the event by sending invitations and encouraging organisers. There were 25 invited institutions in the region that took advantage of the offer of free packets and conducted programmes which are featured in the following pages of this issue. Packets were the usual model of ZOO with booklet, flash cards, placard, stickers, etc. The following pages will reflect the sincerity and enthusiasm these vulture centres took Vulture Day. Best of all we printed many additional packets which are being offered to Indian zoos to use to run a vulture education session during India’s Wildlife Week, 1-7 October 2012.

A new version of our vulture booklet to update recent news of vultures is also included. Vultures have had their habitat and thus their culture taken away from them. No wonder they go into “vulture shock”.

Placard and Flash Cards are very popular with teachers and student alike because they provide an activity. Usually after the programme, teachers lead the kids on a march into public areas to promote the conservation of vultures. Participants wave the placard and chant slogans.

Stickers are also popular with students who collect them to put on the school lockers and books.

A particularly attractive sticker by TN Forest Dept. for Vulture Awareness Day.

List of institutions celebrating Vulture Awareness Day with help from ZOO and AVAD.

From India:1. Indira Gandhi Park Zoo, Rourkela,

Orissa2. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park,

Visakhapatnam, AP3. University of Kota, Rajasthan4. National Zoological Park, New Delhi5. Savitri Sikha Nikaten, Rajasthan6. VOC Park Mini Zoo, Coimbatore,

TN7. C.S.I. St. Thomas Matriculation

School, Chennai8. CEE, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh9. Sepahijala Zoo, Tripura10. Biodiversity Conservation

Foundation, Trichy, TN 11. Samariah St. Johns H.S.S.

Tisaiyanvilai, TN12. University of Lucknow, UP13. Kishor Malekar, Maharashtra14. Dr. Ramakrishnan, Ooty, TN15. Regional Museum of Natura

History, Bhopal, MP16. Sakkarbaug Zoo, Gujarat17. Mysore Zoo, Karnataka18. NBNP, Coimbatore, TN19. Adayar Eco Park, Chennai, TN

Other South Asian Countries:20. Arunima Higher Sec. School, Nepal21. Central Zoo, Kathmandu, Nepal22. Dhaka Zoo, Bangladesh23. Chittagong Zoo, Bangladesh24. Bangladesh Forest Department25. Lahore Zoo, Pakistan

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Indira Gandhi Park Zoo, Rourkela, Odhisha

Zoo education programme is one of the programmes undertaken by Horticulture Department, Rourkela steel plant, Rourkela. School students from different schools were invited to the Indira Gandhi Park Zoo to spread the awareness among them towards the issues related to biodiversity conservation and threats. The international vulture awareness day was celebrated by the Horticulture department on 1st September, 2012 at Indira Gandhi Park Zoo, SAIL, Rourkela steel Plant.

To mark the occasion, students of Gyanajyoti Public School, Sector – 19, Rourkela participated. Thirty five students belonging to class VII and VIII took part along with two teachers in the celebration. The celebration of International Vulture Awareness Day started at 10:45 am on 1st September, 2012 at Indira Gandhi Park Zoo. Sri H. Mishra, Assistant General Manager welcomed the gathering with his inspiring speech. He also emphasized the role of zoo education on conservation of the species.

The session was followed by the inaugural speech of Dr. A. Biswas, Sr. Veterinary Officer and in-Charge (ZDP). He addressed about the threats to the vulture population with reference to the veterinary use of Diclofenac sodium as pain killer. He also spoke about the effect of the medicine on physiology of vultures. Mr. S. Mishra, Curator, Indira Gandhi Park Zoo and Deer Park, carried forward the programme with an interactive way. He spoke about the diversity of the vulture species of world, India and Odisha. He also highlighted the other causes of threat to the vulture population like habitat destruction and scarcity of the food availability. Students were enlightened about conservation programmes carried out by Government and NGO’s. Students also learnt about Conservation Breeding Programmes in Indian Zoos and Rescue centers.

The programme went on with the education materials supplied by the Zoo Outreach Organisation specifically on International Vulture Awareness Day celebration. Students read the short poems regarding each Indian vulture species. There was a short

play with the vulture information cards. One volunteer had to show the card and the others need to tell the name of the vulture without seeing the backside text of the card. They also tied the ‘rakhi’ to their friends especially designed for the International Vulture Awareness Day. The students extended their hands towards the conservation of the vulture with the flash card provided in the education kit. Besides, a poem, written in Odia

(regional language of Odisha) on vultures was read by the students. The celebration of International Vulture Awareness Day came to an end with the Vote of Thanks by Sri V.K. Garg, Assistant Manager, Horticulture Department, SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant.

The students had an exposure visit in the zoo and toy train ride in a cheerful mood with a successful completion of the celebration of the International Vulture Awareness Day – 2012. Submitted by Satyanarayan Mishra, Curator, Indira Gandhi Park Zoo, Rourkela. [email protected]

Students briefed about vultures and its conservation by the resource persons

The wards with placard and vulture booklet

mailto:[email protected]



Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam, AP

As part of the educational activities being conducted at the zoo, the “International Vulture Awareness Day” was celebrated on September 1st 2012. The zoo has Scavenger / Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus housed in the Birds of Prey enclosure. About 40 students from different schools were invited to participate in the awareness programme. It started off with an interactive session at the vulture enclosure. The resource persons briefed the students about some fascinating facts about the vultures and also encouraged the students to watch their behaviour in captivity. The Deputy Conservator of Forests and Zoo Curator. Sri G. Ramalingam was the chief guest of the programme. He also interacted with the students and shared useful information at the vulture enclosure. Later, they took out a rally from vulture enclosure to the zoo education centre by tying the wrist bands and displaying the placards in the educational kits provided by Zoo Outreach Organization.

The students watched a thought-provoking documentary on Vulture Conservation in India. Later, power point presentation emphasizing different species of vultures, their distribution, ecological importance and conservation status was given in an attempt to imbibe useful information to the students about these endangered creatures in an interactive manner. Later activity to identify and colour the different species of vultures in India was carried out using the flash cards

provided in the educational kits. Students took an active role in the interactive sessions by asking various queries on vultures to the resource persons. Competitions like quiz and elocution were conducted to test what they have learnt from the awareness

programme. The response from the participants was overwhelming and all of them performed very well in the competitions. The event ended with prize distribution and closing speech by the zoo curator. Participation certificates were also distributed to all

the students involved. The participants thoroughly enjoyed the programme and successfully integrated facts about vultures through their performances in various activities and competitions conducted by the zoo authorities. Thus, the entire programme has been

entertaining as well as informative.

Acknowledgement: We remain thankful to Zoo Outreach Organization, Coimbatore, Wildlife Information Liaison Development and Conservation Breeding Specialist Group for providing

valuable resource materials in the form of educational kits. Submitted by K.L.N Murthy, Biologist, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam. [email protected]

Participants were briefed about vultures in front of zoo’s vulture enclosure

Vulture conservation rally conducted at the zoo by carrying placard


University of Kota, Rajasthan, Workshop on Vultures

Opening Session: Workshop on International Vulture Awareness Day was organized by Department of Wildlife Science, University of Kota, Rajasthan in collaboration with Department of Science and Technology (DST), Regional Office, Kota, Rajasthan and Zoo Outreach Organization, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This two day workshop was organized to enhance the knowledge about vultures among all related stake holders like students, faculty members, members of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), delegates from other institutions, forest and wildlife officers.

The Chief Guest of the workshop was Honorable Vice-chancellor, Prof. Madhusudan Sharma, University of Kota, Rajasthan, Guest of honour was Mr. Anurag Bhardwaj, CCF, Wildlife Division, Kota, Rajasthan. Mr. G.L. Garg, Director, DST. The convener of the workshop was Mrs. Dr. Fatima Sultana, Course-coordinator, Department of Wildlife Science.

The inaugural session started with enlightening of lamp by Mr. G.L. Garg, Director, DST, Kota welcomed the gathering and delegates from different institution, students and NGOs.

Dr. Krishnendra Nama gave an introductory presentation about the Biodiversity of Kota. In his presentation, Dr. Nama presented the threats and opportunities of biodiversity of this region. He also emphasized the role of communities, Forest department and all related stakeholders to conserve the biodiversity in and around Kota.

Vulture kits provided by Zoo Outreach Organization were displayed jointly by the Chief Guest, guest of honor, guests, convener of the workshop and organizing secretary.

Mr. Anurag Bhardwaj in his speech promised to establish a vulture rescue centre in Kota Zoo.

The Vice-chancellor Prof. Madhusudan Sharma said, “Wildlife Department is the most vibrant and dynamic dept. in the University. He also informed that State Government is ready to establish Wildlife Research Institute (WRI) under

this University and proposal has been sent to Central Government for approval. He in his speech also added conservation of native species is more beneficial than introduction of any kind of species”.

The wildlife students who devoted themselves for wildlife conservation and management in one way or other were awarded with prizes by Honourable Vice chancellor.

Technical Session: This session started with the presentation of Dr. Anil Kumar Chhangani, Associate Professor, MGS University, Bikaner. Dr. Chhangani in his presentation “Present vulture’s population dynamics in Rajasthan” informed the current vulture population in Rajasthan. He

not only spoke about vultures but also about cattle rearing trend, culture

Wildlife students with vulture kits

Chief Guest and other dignitaries at the vulture workshop

Participants colouring the vulture flash cards


associated with vultures and their rescue techniques and methods. Dr. Chhangani during his presentation said, “The vulture breeding populations were observed in an area with safe nesting and roosting trees and cliffs, especially in and around the protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, temples, sacred groves, archeological monuments, forts, old buildings, etc. A total of 6489 vultures of seven different species were observed in 24 districts in different parts of Rajasthan. During this study we rescued over 100 vultures including Long-billed and White-backed vultures in collaboration with the State Forest and Veterinary Departments, NGO’s and volunteers from different parts of Rajasthan. These rescued vultures were kept in Zoos of the respective area”.

Dr. Chhangani thanked Mrs. Dr. Fatima Sultana, convener of the workshop and all students of Department of Wildlife Science for organizing this workshop and also thanked to DST, Kota and Zoo Outreach Organization for sponsoring this event.

Next technical presentation was by Dr. Pratap Singh Kataria, Associate Professor, Government Dungar College, Bikaner. Dr. Kataria presented “Vultures of Thar Desert”. Dr. Kataria gave clue to identify the species and spoke about management and threats of carcass dumping sites to vultures. He also informed rescue techniques and care operations before releasing the rescued vultures in their natural habitat.

After, technical session students were given to complete their tasks as per the vulture kit. Students coloured the vulture flash cards to their original colour and made use of the knowledge from the contents mentioned in the Kit.

At the end of session, Mrs. Dr. Fatima Sultana addressed the gathering about the importance and role of scavenging vultures for ecosystem balance and also expressed her vote of thanks to all invitees from different institutions whose august presence lead to completion of the workshop.

Field Visit to Vulture site (Geparnath): All wildlife students of Department of wildlife Science, faculty

members, and members from different NGOs with both experts of technical session reached Geparnath area at 6:00 hrs on 02 Sep’ 12 to observe the sun basking of vultures.

Dr. Chhangani during field visit informed the nesting pattern and nest type of vulture i.e. saucer type nest. He during his orientation with students said Geparnath area is safest breeding site for Long billed vultures in Asia where he had passed his time in vulture study for more than 12 years. He also informed vultures use locally available sticks for making their nests and their nest size diameter is 2-3 feet. And a single nest consists of 2000-4000 sticks.

Dr. Kataria informed it is hard to differentiate between juvenile of white backed vultures and adult long billed vultures. He also added vultures eat 1-2kg of flesh as routine diet but can store same amount of food.

Both the experts taught students about the counting techniques of vultures, rescue methods and thrust areas of the study to motivate students to carry out their studies in vultures. Submitted by Fatima Sultana, University of Kota, Rajasthan. [email protected]

Dr. Anil Chhangani interacting with students during field trip at vulture site

Vultures at Geparnath, one of the safest breeding site


National Zoological Park, New Delhi

International Vulture Awareness Day was celebrated in National Zoological Park on 1 September 2012. A group of 42 students from the Progress Public School, New Delhi attended. The programme was started at 9:00 am. Before the programme, all the students went around the zoo and then came to the Education Center. Introduction of International Vulture Awareness Day was given by Mr. Riaz Ahmad Khan (Curator Education). Followed to this, Mr. Amitabh Agnihotri, Director, introduced the event and talked about vultures and its conservation.

Then a presentation on vultures (introductory area of vulture, causes of extinct, relation with human community etc) was given by Mr. Saurabh Vashisth, Education Assistant. A movie on vultures also shown to the students. Then vulture shock kits was distributed to the students and the following activities were played: taking oath to save vultures / Rakhi tying /poem competition and vulture cards colored by the students.

The event was covered by media and the children enjoyed all the activities and the teachers appreciated the efforts saying that the programme was not only interesting but also information given helped to orient the children to the right directions.

We would like to thank Zoo Outreach Organization and Conservation Breeding Specialist Group for providing such informative packages that are highly applauded by the masses and are proving to be a boon for the wildlife conservation.

Poem written by a student:Vulture Vulture are you our friendby your eco-friendly and good natureyour are not bad, useful for usClean our jungles by eating dead creatureOh! my friend, your are in DangerWith no more junglesNeed to save youif we have to save nature.Submitted by Riaz Ahmad Khan, Curator Education & Mr. Saurabh Vashisth, Education Assistant. [email protected]

Tying vulture rakhi and taking oath to save vultures

The kids coloured the vulture cards and it displayed in zoo bulletin board

The Zoo team with the students and teachers


Savitri Sikha Nikaten and Save Vulture Community, Bikaner, Rajasthan

On 1 September 2012 we organized a one day Advocacy programme for 11-12 standard biology students at Savitri Sikha Nikaten, Bikaner, Rajasthan. This event was organized in collaboration with Save Vulture Community and Zoo Outreach Organisation. A total of 70 students attended. The school principal and local drug distributors also attended. The students were told about the Jorbeer area which is a prominent city of Thar Desert, having all the traits of being known as ‘The capital of Desert’. The Jorbeer region is spread over an area of 20-25 km. The city has a vulture link and it’s nearby desert villages are well known for avian fauna mostly for Gyps vulture species in winter and for other birds throughout the year. Besides residence vultures, many migratory vultures start arriving here during September and return back to their original place by February and March. In the last 7 years vulture population has been increasing in Jorbeer dead animal dumping site.

The current vulture population of this area is 3500. All 5 species of vultures (Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Red Headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), Indian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis) and Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) are found here. After this

the students were introduced ZOO’s vulture kits and explained them in detail. They tied rakhi, went through the booklet and flash cards. They carried a placard and took a oath to save vuture species in their area. Submitted by Dau Lal Bohara, Bikaner, Rajashthan. [email protected]

Savitri Sikha Nikaten students with vulture kits

Sepahijala Zoological Park, TripuraDuring IVAD 2012, we conducted a discussion session on need for vulture conservation at Bishalgarh H.S.School where about 500 students were participated along with 24 teachers. Sri Sankar Saha, teacher of the School delivered a lecture highlighting need for vulture conservation.

I gave a power point presentation along with delivering lecture on the need of conducting more awareness programme on vulture conservation whose numbers are declining rapidly. Thereafter a quiz competition on wildlife specially on conservation of vulture was organized and four schools namely (1) Bishalgarh H.S.School (2) Vivekananda Sishunekatan, Bishalgarh (3) Baidhyardighi H.S School and Charilam H.S School participated.

At the end the materials received from the Zoo Outreach Organization was used and distributed among students and teachers.

Four schools of Bishalgarh participating in vulture quiz competition

The organiser, school students and teachers with ZOO’s vulture kits

Submitted by Ajit Kumar Bhowmik, Director, Sepahijala Zoological Park, Tripura. Email: [email protected]


Arunima Higher Sec. School, Kathmandu, Nepal

September 1st turned out to be a special day at Arunima Higher Sec. School, Nepal. As 1st September is celebrated as the International Vulture Awareness Day, with respect to this schedule, the Friends of Zoo members of Arunima Higher Secondary School decided to dedicate a week for conducting awareness on school students regarding Vulture. Respective FOZ members participated in an Essay writing competition on the topic "Importance of Vulture for Ecology" on Friday, 31st August. Similar, executive members of FOZ club also involved themselves in preparing a wall magazine with the intention to bring positive change attitude of students regarding vulture. This magazine was based on the information gathered from various sources By FOZ members. These programs contributed in increasing the sincerity of students regarding the conservation of rare animals like vulture. It was found that students shared their views about vulture through essays and wall magazine. Similarly these programs provided students an opportunity to get attached to such a concept apart from their curriculum. Likewise, we, the executive members of FOZ club enhanced our ability to work in team and took a step ahead in vulture conservation. Submitted byArunima Higher Secondary SchoolKathmandu, Nepal

Central Zoo, Nepal

Central Zoo celebrated the International Vulture Awareness Day on 1st September, 2012 to create awareness about vanishing vultures. On the occasion various programs were organized among zoo visitors and Friends of Zoo (FOZ) members. More than 200 FOZ members from different schools participated in the program, which comprises of presentation along

with the talk program on Vultures. FOZ members took out a rally around the Zoo holding display cards and chanting slogans for vulture conservation. Likewise colouring and painting were done by FOZ members. To create awareness about vultures talk program was also delivered among visitors in front of the vulture enclosure. Similarly the talk program

was organized by Little Angels FOZ eco club in the school where students delivered a presentation to their fellow students about the vulture awareness and the need to conserve it. Submitted by Rachna Shah, Conservation Education Officer, NTNC-Central Zoo, Nepal. [email protected]

Vulture poster made by the students

Students marching in the zoo

Holding vulture posters and chanting slogans for vulture conservation


VOC Park Mini Zoo, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Zoo Outreach Organisation ZOO celebrated International Vulture Awareness Day on 1 September 2012 at VOC Park Mini Zoo, Coimbatore. Twenty-one students aged between 11-14 of Anupparplayam Corporation High School took part in the programme with their teacher Mr. T. Ambrose. Dr. Asokan, Director of the zoo welcomed them and briefed about the zoo. Following this an education awareness programme on vultures was conducted by R. Marimuthu, Education Officer, ZOO.

They were given detailed information about vanishing vultures and the need to protect them. He started with the meaning of biodiversity, each species unique role in ecosystem in which vultures are part of it. Vultures of the world-new and old world vultures were also explained. A total of 23 old world vultures are found in Africa, Asia and Europe and out of which 9 species are found in India. They are: 1. White backed vultures (Gyps bengalensis), 2. Slender billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris), 3. Long billed vultures (Gyps indicus), 4. Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus), 5. Red headed vultures (Sarcogyps calvus), 6. Indian Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), 7. Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayenisis), 8. Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) and 9. Bearded or Lammergeier vultures (Gypaetus barbatus). Colour photographs of these species were shown to the students to understand differences in species.

Then general information such as their morphology, distribution and habitat, general behaviour, social behaviour, vocalizations, diet and feeding behaviour, reproduction, longevity, causes of mortality and its conservation status were told. Vultures in human culture explained by giving out few examples. The Egyptians considered the vulture to be an excellent mother. In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Jatayu and his brother Sampaati who had the form of vultures and helped Rama to find out Sita kidnapped by Ravana. In the Tibetan and Parsi practice of sky burial, vultures and other birds eat human corpses.

Then moved on to the ecological significance of vultures and they are

Municipal school students with nine species of Indian vulture posters

Going through the information on the vulture booklets

Exploring vulture flash cards to know about vulture kinds and the poem


the primary removers of carrion in India, scavenging on animals and thereby helping keep the environment clean. The three Indian vultures, White backed vulture, Slender billed vulture, Long billed Vulture are threatened. In the wild it has been declined drastically over the past decade. The decline of these species in India has been put at 97% by 2005. IUCN Redlist put these three species in Critically Endangered category and that is highest category of endangerment. Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 put this species Schedule I. Vulture decline in India was first documented in 1999. Diclofenac, the veterinary drug introduced in late 80’s was the main cause of death. Non-Governmental Organisations and Government of India are striving hard to save these species by setting up vulture breeding and conservation centres in several parts of the country. In Nepal and Pakistan also vulture conservation activities are going on.

Subsequent to this, ZOO’s vulture kits were distributed to all the students. First of all, VULTURE SHOCK booklet was used. The students were asked to go through page by page and few of them read loudly to other students hear. Then they took the Indian Vulture Venture …Flash Cards. They explored all the nine species of

vultures, read the information and the poem. They tied the rakhi each other and pledged to save vultures. They were asked to look at the sticker with International vulture Day logo on it. Next they carried the placard and shouting slogans related to conservation of vultures and move around the zoo grounds. The children told that they learned new informations on vultures, which they never know and they will be supportive for

conservation of this species. Zoo Director thanked the students and teacher and also Zoo Outreach Organisation for having the day at the zoo. He also thanked Conservation Breeding Specialist Group for sponsoring vulture education materials. Submitted by R. Marimuthu, ZOO and Dr. N. Asokan, Director, VOC Park Mini [email protected]; [email protected].

Students who participated in the event with their teacher and coordinator

ZOO educator presents detailed information about Indian vulture species


C.S.I. St. Thomas Matriculation School, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Nearly 40 students from St. Thomas Mat. School, Marian Mat. H.S.S., St. Dominic's Anglo Indian H.S.S. and Montfort Mat. H.S.S. Chennai participated in International Vulture Awareness Day 2012 at Thomas Mat. H.S.S. The free educational packets on VULTURE SHOCK were distributed by Mr. Paul Jeyakaran, Rtd. Deputy Registrar, Madurai, M.K. University.

Mrs. Vimala, Principal welcomed the participants. Jessie Jeyakaran gave a brief Introductory talk Mr. Ramjee, The Scientist-incharge CEE -Tamilnadu briefed about the vultures with the powerpoint presentation. Mrs. Angaline a well talented teacher of Thomas Mat. School trained the students in such a way to give a cultural programme with the vulture masks. There were 4 sessions on threats, the cause of their disappearance, uses and the difference between the New World and the Old World vultures. All were clearly dealt with. Students were divided into groups for colouring and picking up of the vultures of each State.

The day's programme was published in Chennai Times and Deccan Chronicle. And telecasted in Makkal TV. Decentralization and data collections on vultures were assigned to the students. Thanks to ZOO, WILD and Conservation Breeding Specialist Group for the Vulture Shock materials which has made us to wake up and to know more about the vultures. Everyone including the media appreciated the team spirit of Zoo Outreach Organisation. Submitted by Jessie Jeyakaran. [email protected]

Students with very creative vulture masks during cultural programme

Posing with vulture education kits

Different vulture masks developed for vulture culture programme


Biodiversity Conservation Foundation BCF, Trichy, Tamil Nadu

The dawn of the first Saturday in September every year is recognised as International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD), which will publicize the importance of conservation of vultures & necessary activities to be initiated at specified landscapes. India is home to nine species of vultures, of which four are seen in Tamilnadu. The rapidly declining vulture population is confined only to Sathyamangalam landscape in TamilNadu. Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (BCF), a non-profit organisation (NPO) has worked at Sathyamangalam landscape on the monitoring of vulture population and issues such as impact of poisons on vultures and trade in vulture for the past three years. In support of IVAD in Sathyamangalam Forest Division (SFD), a special vulture awareness programme was organized by BCF in a joint venture with Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD) Sathyamangalam forest division on Sep 1st at Sathyamangalam.

BCF has organised an all-day event at SFD at three different venues including Sathyamangalam town and tribal settlements at Kulithuraipatti and Thengumaragada. BCF has included photo displays, talks, documentary, distribution of awareness booklets, tags, painting cards and placards with an aim to create awareness and stress the importance of conservation of vultures and the impact of eco-toxicological factors and anthropogenic interference which has led to the rapid decline of this species. The programme was primarily organised for students and tribal villagers to inform them about the importance of conservation of vultures at their own habitats.

The DFO of SFD, Mr. Satheesh, IFS who made the inaugural speech on the awareness programme at Sathyamangalam town gave an account on the importance of Sathyamangalam landscape in vulture conservation. The reserve forests of Sathyamangalam being at the confluence of Eastern and Western Ghats hold a crucial position in vulture conservation. It forms a critical wildlife zone as it is the sink habitat of Mudumalai and Bandipur Tiger Reserves, which also ensures a steady food-chain to vultures. He also stated the importance of conservation of vulture at Sathyamangalam, the last stronghold of four old world vultures

Students looking at the exhibition gallery

Mr. Satheesh DFO giving his inaugural speech

Vulture flash card given to the teachers


viz, White backed, Long billed, Red-headed and Nephron vulture.

Dr. A. Kumaraguru BCF followed a special talk on vulture conservation, who emphasized on the reasons for the rapid decline of vultures and the measures common people has to initiate to conserve vultures in their own landscape. Vultures are of great value as natural scavengers, enabling clean ecosystem devoid of carcass for longer time and halts spread of disease from carcass. High mortality rates of all age groups and abnormally low reproductive success rate was attributed to the extensive use of the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) diclofenac as a veterinary drug. Vultures exposed to the drug through carcasses of livestock that were treated with the drug exhibit signs of illness (neck dropping syndrome) prior to death. The other plausible reasons for the decline are use of pesticides, human disturbance and decline of nesting sites, habitat alteration/ fragmentation, decline of wild ungulates. He also insisted on the cooperation of common people and student’s involvement to bring about a complete ban on diclofenac as veterinary drug and in maintaining a non-toxic environment for the survival of an integrated ecosystem.

Mr. Karupaswamy, IPS, Superintendent of Police (SP), Special Task Force (STF), based at Sathyamangalam, who was overwhelmed by this programme, on behalf of his team extended his support to conserve vultures in this landscape. He also suggested us to conduct frequent awareness programs to educate people of Sathyamangalam Forest Division to conserve these critically endangered species before being extinct from this landscape. Members of BCF, Mr. Senthilkumar, Mr. Shanmugamanathan, Mr. Siva Ellanchezhian educated the students through a documentary on vulture and photo displays the diversity of vultures and the importance to conserve these natural scavengers. More than 600 students from various Government and private schools attended the awareness programme conducted at

Sathyamangalam town. Students and teachers appreciated our efforts and expressed their happiness to see pictures/photos of this amazing species, which they can otherwise see only through television shows. Students have acquired a sense of accountability to protect the ecosystem and avoid eco-toxicological habitats of human. Inspired by these enthusiastic students, BCF extended the awareness program to another two tribal villages at Thengumaragada and Kulithuraipatti. BCF has made tribal villagers to understand the ecological importance of vultures as scavengers and created awareness among them on the impact of diclofenac and measures to avoid its use to conserve vulture and their habitat for future generation.

BCF expresses its sincere thanks to TNFD for giving us permission and necessary cooperation for IVAD awareness programme at Sathyamangalam Forest Division. BCF expresses a heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Sabapathy who kindled our interest for this awareness programme. BCF also thanks Zoo Outreach Organisation, IVAD, Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, WILD for giving us an opportunity to foster our participation in vulture conservation and for providing us the required information booklets. BCF extends its heartfelt thanks to STF for extending their support for vulture conservation. A special thanks goes to the forest officials of SFD, for their immense help during the programme. We also thank students and Staff members of Saru Matriculation Higher secondary School, Sri Ragavedra Higher Secondary School, Govt Higher Secondary School, Thengumaragada Govt. Middle School, tribal villagers and everyone who have been part of this programme. Submitted by Dr. Kumaraguru, BCF, Trichy, TN. [email protected]

One of the teachers tying rakhi to his student

TNFD official sharing his experiences on vultures




Samariah St. Johns H.S.School, Tisaiyanvilai, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

CULTURE SHOCK + VULTURE CULTURE = VULTURE SHOCK: International Vulture Awareness Day was celebrated in Samariah St. Johns H.S.S. Tisaiyanvilai, Tirunelveli Dist. in an enjoyable and meaningful manner. Our school correspondent Dr. J.I.P.Rajan welcomed the gathering. Headmaster W. Joel Revingston in his introductory talk said that vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds which are declining drastically in their number and may disappear if we are not aware of that danger. Vulture Awareness Days were run by South Africa and England from 2009, and that is expanded now in to an international event. Vultures act as the sanitation department of the natural world. They are scavengers eating dead animals before they have time to rot and make us sick. Governments of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan agreed to take measures to remove toxic ‘Vulture killing’ drugs from the environment, including diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for veterinary use) Vultures are not vicious or destructive; very clean birds, intelligent birds, very active, beautiful, very large and heaviest flying bird. We should know about it; spread the sweet truths about it to others and let us all pledge this day to save, conserve and adore this powerful and brilliant fliers with a wingspan of over 2 meters.

The chief guest Mr. Susairajan, Principal of Joan of Arc Community College gave a special talk. Church congregant Edwin, a retired teacher explained in ancient religious traditions how vultures are related to spirituality with references from the BIBLE. (culturally revered bird). School governing board member Mr. Devadoss and Revigston were there on the dais.Students had a discussion about the vultures on the following headings: Uses of vultures to human, virtues of vultures, threats to vulture, reasons for the disappearance of the species (vultures are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List- The International Union for Conservation of Nature) and why we save vultures?

Nine Indian vulture species, habitats and descriptions were dramatized by the students. A quiz was conducted for the 10th standard student teams which kept the audience excited. Many facts about vultures came to light for the parents, students, teachers and congregation. Writer of our school Samuel Jebakumar listed the

characteristics of the vulture that has to be inculcated in human beings. Sixty five students participated in the drawing competition, later on the drawings were exhibited in the class room. Teacher Sunder thanked everyone. Students with IVAD placards, rakhi, stickers and slogans -all these kits where supplied by Zoo Outreach Organization, Coimbatore, went on a procession. Felicitation and guidance were received from National Green Corps District co-ordinators Dr. Vijayalakshmi, Dr. Selvin Samuel, Dr. Mohanraj Ebenezer, Gajendra Babu and T.F. Joseph. Media reporters

Murugesan, and Ponsekar were present. A. Alzhagia Nambi announced the programme in All India Radio. Others participated in the programme were: Janarthanan, Sudhaker and Bala Sankar. On the bulletin board the facts about vultures and flashcards were displayed. Evaluation sheets were supplied to 20 students at random to assess the programme. Submitted by Joel Revingston, Head Master. [email protected]

Students who participated in vulture drawing with their pictures

Vulture pictures drawn on the black board and students in drawing competition

Mr. Joel Revingston with students wearing colourful vulture costumes


Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh

On the occasion of International Vulture Awareness Day on 1 September, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow in collaboration with Zoo Outreach Organisation, Tamil Nadu and U.P. State Biodiversity Board celebrated the Day with various activities. The programme started with flag off of an Vulture Awareness Car at 6:30 am from VC Bungalow by Prof. M.K. Mishra, Vice Chancellor, University of Lucknow and his wife Mrs. Meena Mishra. The vulture awareness car was well decorated with banners, posters, stickers etc. on vulture awareness. At the same time vulture rakhis were tied to Mrs. Meena Mishra, and other faculty members. The car covered areas of Lucknow city like National Botanical Research Institute, Ram Manohar Lohiya Park, Regional Science City, Fun Republic, Waves, Sahara Ganj, Zoo, Charbagh railway station, Aminabad, Chowk, Hazaratganj, and distributed awareness materials on vultures. Total of 6000 pamphlets were distributed among people and various local schools and colleges of Lucknow city. In another event painting competition was also organized along with a display stall at Gate no. 4 of Lucknow University.

The vulture kits by Zoo Outreach Organisation were sent to more than 20 schools of Lucknow along with other educational material. The principals and science teachers were very enthusiast by the awareness material especially the vulture rakhis were very attractive. The programme concluded with the fun-fare with much enthusiasm among youth as well as elders of the city. The programme was lead by Dr. Amita Kanaujia (Dr. Amita Kanaujia is Associate Professor in Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow. She is one of the members of State Vulture Conservation Society, Department of Forest Uttar Pradesh), her Research Scholars (Ms. Sonika Kushwaha, Mr. Akhilesh Kumar and Yasmin Zaidi) as well as volunteers (Mrs. Sheel, Mr. Nafees Alam and Mr. Grijesh). Submitted by Dr. Amita Kanaujia, Lucknow University. UP. [email protected]

Well decorated vulture awareness car flag off by Vice Chancellor and his wife

Students made aware of vulture conservation

People from all walks of life come forward to save vultures




CEE, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

International Vulture Awareness Day was observed by Centre for Environment Education, CEE Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal with educational material support from Zoo Outreach Organization, Coimbatore. Government Divisional Residential School Katara Hills, Bhopal was selected for the programme as it represents the students from 8 nearby districts of Bhopal from Madhya Pradesh with capacity of 300 students (Boys and Girls) from classes VI-XII std and 25 teachers. This school is in outskirts of the city where vultures population may be seen frequently and students have some sight of this bird. The awareness programme on vulture was first discussed with Shri. S.P. Arjaria, Principal and Ms. Rakhi Vishwakarma, Teacher (TGT-Science). School administration was welcomed and invited CEE to organize the programme. The vulture kit and presentation on vulture provided by ZOO was gone through by Mr. Dilip Chakravarty, Project Officer, CEE and made it simple and linguistic. The programme started with the introduction of participants and an overview of session. The general characteristic of Vultures, their habitat, types of vultures found in India through flash card, food habit and social behaviour was shared with the participants. The cultural and ecological significance of the bird is also informed during the session. Students and teachers were curious to know why the population of this huge bird is declining in recent days. The answer to this question came from the student of class VI Master Liladhar. He responded that the chemical used for livestock for pain reliving is the major threat to vulture population. Later on the chemical Diclofenac and its impact to vultures was explained by the educator. At the end the conservation efforts by MoEF and different organization was also informed to the participants.

To make session more interactive, students from different classes in group of 10 students were invited to play with the learning materials on vultures. Students were happy to receive materials like stickers, flash card, placard, rakhi and booklet on vultures developed by ZOO Outreach Organization. Few kits were also provided to the teachers in order to carry out future programme on this topic. Students also tied rakhi to each other and took pledge to conserve vultures at own level. Students and

teacher were benefited by this session and encouraged to have more such programme based on species conservation.

Submitted by Dilip Chakravarthy, Project Officer. CEE, MP Office. [email protected]

Mr. Dilip Chakravarthy gives an overview about vultures

Teachers provided with vulture kits to have future programmes on vultures

Enthusiastic students who are having vulture materials




Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal, MP.

RMNH arranged Vulture Awareness Programme to mark the International Vulture Awareness Day. Eighty students of Govt. Navin Higher Secondary School, Area Colony participated. Shri Manik Lal Gupta, Educational Asst. during his presentation informed the students the vulture were one of the biggest birds of India feeding on dead body and found cleaning the environment as ‘Scavengers’. Vulture also may prefer fresh meat and they take bathe after each meal which shows their hygienic attitude. He further added that population of vultures are declining due to changes in processing of dead livestock, use of diclofenac as pain killer to cattle, application of pesticides, habitat alteration in breeding areas, forest fire, massive mining etc. Shri M.L. Gupta also informed that they used to collect twigs to build a nest on cliffs or tall trees. They are slow breeders found to lay only one egg in per year leading to their thin population. Shri Gupta told to students that vultures wait for a mightier scavenger to eat first interestingly to open the carcass.These vultures do not carry food to their young ones in their claws. Bacteria infected food never affect the health of vulture due to its strong acid content of stomach. Shri Gupta elaborated that the dogs, wild dogs, crows, hyenas etc. were the natural competitor of vulture and it has been noticed that vultures were brilliant fliers with a wingspan of well over two meters and could fly for hours without flapping once. He recalled the names of different vultures as White backed, Slender billed, Egyptian, Long billed, Himalayan griffon, Eurasian griffon, Bearded, Black and Red vultures are found in India. During discussion most of the students revealed that they did not notice vulture any where however only fifteen students acknowledged that sighting of only one species. Shri Gupta made an appeal to the students not to disturb their habitat and nest. Study material received from Zoo Outreach Organisation, Coimbatore was distributed among the students. Shri Amol Adholiya, Teacher and Eco-club incharge, Govt. Navin Higher Secondary School, Arera Colony was also present during the programme. Submitted by Sethuramalingam, Scientist - [email protected]

Govt. Navin H.S.S. students tying Vulture rakhi

Students rejoicing with Vulture kits

Shri. Manik Lal Gupta presenting a slide show on Vultures


“Van Mahotsava” at TATA Steel Zoological Park, JamshedpurVan Mahotsava is celebrated throughout the country during the first week of July. In 1950, K. M. Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food started this event to create enthusiasm among public for forest conservation by planting trees. Celebrating this event is one of the best ways towards reducing global warming.

Tata Steel Zoological Park celebrated “Van Mohotsava’ as a part of its ongoing educational activities in July-August, 2012 and made aware the visitors the benefits of such program. As usual we focused on different age groups and this year women and children. The programme was kick started by Mrs. Surekha Nerurka, the First lady of Tata Steel. She was instrumental in planting of 15 saplings of medicinal plants inside the Zoo campus of which 5 are new species.

During this celebration, a total of 57 saplings were planted inside the zoo campus with the collaboration of Lions Club Steel City, Marwari Mahila Samaj and Little Wonder School. Zoo also celebrated Friendship Day with the theme befriending trees and 142 children took oath to protect the trees. Submitted by: Ms. Seema Rani, Biologist Cum Education Officer. Email: [email protected]

World Environment Day 2012 – Green EconomyUN started World Environment Day in 1974 with the theme “Only One Earth”. Since then every year on 5 June with the new theme UN sensitizes people around the world to protect environ-ment. GREEN ECONOMY, DOES IT INCLUDE YOU? is the theme of this year. A programme was organised on 9 June 2012 at Sri. Arbindho Marg Matric. H.S.S, Madurai.

Participants were welcomed with special talks on WED and getting packets named Living with Climate Change. The Beaufort wind scale was explained with the student’s action in order to know the difference of speeds & its effects. The correct answers to weather protection were of great use, which inspired the entire group. The GHG – Green House Gas Guardian/Ghost were very useful to understand

the concept. Another awareness program was conducted at Murray Rabindra school 28 July 2012. Forty four participants heard UN concern to save the species in this decade. In addition UN International Year of Forest 2011 was explained in context with bats need for habitat. ZOO’s bat education packet was distributed. The students were asked to tie rakhi each other’s hand and wear mask. The older students read the Bat Bookmark and the materials we printed in Tamil about the fruit eating & insect eating bats. With the BAT – FRIENDLY placards they went for marching. Role-

play on fruit bats and insectivorous bats were conducted and students learned a lot about the South Asian Fruit Bat. Drawing competitions were conducted and eco-labels distributed. Year of the Bats 2012 program has sensitised kids to share their knowledge to their parents & friends. The sponsors Zoo Outreach Organization, CCINSA, Chester Zoo & CBSG were explained with their logo printed at the back of the educational packets. Submitted by: Jessie Jeyakaran, Chennai. Email: [email protected]

Education reports

Children participated in the tree planting programme at TATA zoo

Students using ZOO's bat education kits during the awareness programme


AbstractA recent avifaunal survey of the Jhalawar range in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan was carried out in the summer of 2011 (May–June). A total of 77 birds were recorded including 6 globally threatened species: Egyptian Vulture, Indian White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Painted Stork and Sarus Crane. Seven different habitat types were surveyed extensively to assess the bird diversity of the region during this period of water scarcity.

IntroductionJhalawar range is situated in the south-eastern district of Jhalawar in Rajasthan state of India. It is a part of the Hadoti region of Rajasthan and lies at the edge of Malwa Plateau (Chourasia & Agarwal 2011). It is characterised by slight undulation on the west and a vast fertile expanse on the east (Prakash & Singh 2001) spread over an area of about 150–180 sq. km. This area falls in the territorial forest division of Jhalawar district (240

37” to 24046” N and 76002” to 76011” E) extending from the south-east part of the Gagrone fort (24037’ 41.5” N, 76010’52.6” E) along the western banks of Kalisindh River to Kanpura village. Beyond that it forms a strip of an average 10 km width and joins the Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary in the north-west. The average annual rainfall received by this area in a year is 943 mm which is the highest for Rajasthan state (www.jhalawar.nic.in 2012). The temperature varies between 32.50C to 470C during summers.

The vegetation of Jhalawar range is dominated by the tropical thorn scrub forest in the plains towards Kalisindh River and tropical dry deciduous forest on the hills in west (Champion & Seth 1968). Dominant vegetation type is ‘Ronj’ (Acacia leucophloea) scattered across a flat landscape. The soil depth of this flat land is quite less resulting in sparse scrubby vegetation. Other vegetation types are Anogeissus pendula, Butea monosperma, Diospyros melanoxylon, Zizyphus sp., Prosopis juliflora and Madhuca indica. There are small patches of moderately dense dry deciduous forest in the undulating parts of the area dominated by Butea monosperma and Anogeissus

pendula. Wild fauna reported from the area include Bengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Wild Pig Sus scrofa, Chinkara Gazella bennettii, Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena and Hanuman langur Semnopithecus entellus although the last one is restricted to the small hilly area on the west close to the buffer areas of Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary. This survey was done while working on another project “Reintroduction of Cheetah in India” in the same region during that period. In spite of the water scarcity, the bird diversity of the

region was found to be good and thus a scientific study was conducted as the information on the birds from this region is very limited. There has been apparently no attempt to document the avifaunal diversity of Jhalawar and there are relatively few studies from the adjoining regions (Chhangani 2009; Nair 2009).

MethodsEntire Jhalawar range was surveyed comprehensively for the presence of birds in the months of May and June 2011. Field surveys were carried out every day in the morning from 0600 to

An avifaunal survey of the Jhalawar range of Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, IndiaAnant Pande*

Table 1. Bird species richness of Jhalawar range

Figure 1. Map of the Study Area. Source: Google Earth for Jhalawar, http://www.ncmrwf.gov.in for Rajasthan District Map

*Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology,Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, IndiaEmail: [email protected]/[email protected]

http://www.jhalawar.nic.in

http://www.jhalawar.nic.in

http://www.ncmrwf.gov.in

http://www.ncmrwf.gov.in


1000 hours as well as in the evening from 1600 to 1900 hours. Birds were searched extensively in habitat classified into seven types viz. Anogeissus pendula -dominant, Butea monosperma -dominant, cultivation, mixed dry deciduous, ruins, thorn scrub and wetlands. The area had a few ruins (remains of old structures/buildings) belonging to the historic princely state, which were searched for the species inhabiting them. The point count survey method was followed to record birds in the different habitat types. Due to the scarcity of water in the area, a few water holes present were monitored for the birds visiting them. Bird species richness was estimated by recording the number of bird species observed in each habitat type. The birds were classified as resident (R) and summer visitor (SV) based on Grimmett et al. (2011).

ResultsIn total 77 species were recorded from the area belonging to 14 orders and 44 families. Order Passeriformes topped the list with 34 species followed by eight species of Falconiformes, seven of Ciconiiformes, six of Columbiformes, four each of Coraciiformes and Charadriiformes; three species of Psittaciformes, two each of Piciformes, Galliformes, Cuculiformes and Apodiformes; and one each of Pelecaniformes, Gruiformes and Caprimulgiformes. Six of the bird species recorded have been categorized as globally threatened (BirdLife International, 2012). Three species viz. Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus, Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus and Indian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis are Critically Endangered, one is Endangered (Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus), one species Vulnerable (Sarus Crane Grus antigone) and one is Near Threatened (Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala) (BirdLife International, 2012).

Only two species i.e. Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi and Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura were summer visitors to the place while rest all were resident birds (Grimmett et al. 2011). A subspecies of House crow Corvus splendens zugmayeri was also seen once during the survey in the thorn scrub area. Among all the birds recorded during the survey, many were seen in more than one of the seven habitat types visited. Maximum

numbers of species were recorded from the thorn scrub habitat (29 species) comprising of 37.7% of total species. Fifteen wetland birds (19.5%) were seen near the few water sources present in the study area (Figure 1). Only four species of birds (5.2%) were observed in all habitat types surveyed while 49 species of birds (63.63%) were observed inhabiting areas like cultivation, ruins, A. pendula -dominated, B. monosperma-dominated and mixed dry deciduous habitats. Three species of terrestrial birds i.e. Dusky Crag Martin Hirundo concolor, Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus and Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer were observed a number of times near the few waterholes present in the area. Several birds like Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus, Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, Indian White-backed vulture Gyps bengalensis, Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus , Sarus Crane Grus Antigone and Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae were seen only once during the survey.

DiscussionPresent study shows the potential of the area as a good habitat for avifauna. Further studies in the region in different seasons are required to prepare a complete checklist of birds found here which will serve as a baseline data for better management of the habitat and conservation of the existing species. Most of the bird species recorded in this study were thorn scrub or wetland associated species which can be attributed to the shortage of water. A number of domestic cattles were found dead during the survey apparently due to water scarcity (pers. obs.). There were a few water sources in nearby villages formed mostly due to the spill-over from the bore-wells or hand-pumps. Watershed development and management is needed urgently to preserve the faunal diversity of the area. There are villages on either side of the Jhalawar range and people regularly traverse it by vehicles from one side to another. Illicit wood/leaf extraction was seen in almost every part of the range as also the presence of a few illegal stone quarries. These issues pose a serious threat to the region and can adversely impact the present biodiversity in the long run.

References BirdLife International (2012). IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded on 08/02/2012 from http://www.birdlife.org. Champion, H.G. & S.K. Seth (1968). A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of India. Government of India, New Delhi, xxvii+404pp.Chhangani, A.K. (2009). Status of the vulture population in Rajasthan, India. Indian Forester 135(2):239-251.Chourasia, V. & L.C. Agarwal (2011). Potential of ecotourism in Hadoti region. South Asian Journal of Tourism and Heritage. 4 (2):161–172.Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (2011). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, London, 528pp.Manakadan, R. & A. Pittie (2004). Standardized common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian subcontinent. Buceros Envis Newsletter: Avian Ecology & Indian Wetlands 6(1): 1–37.Nair, A.K. (2009). The status and distribution of major aquatic fauna in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary in Rajasthan with special reference to the Gangetic Dolphin Platanista gangetica gangetica (Cetartiodactyla: Platanistidae). Journal of Threatened Taxa 1(3): 41–146.Official website of Jhalawar district (2012) - http://jhalawar.nic.in/jhalawar.htm Prakash, I. & H. Singh (2001). Composition and species diversity of small mammals in the hilly tracts of south-eastern Rajasthan. Tropical Ecology 42(1): 25–33.

http://www.birdlife.org

http://www.birdlife.org

http://jhalawar.nic.in/jhalawar.htm





Table 2. Checklist of birds from Jhalawar range (classification as per Manakadan & Pittie 2004)

Common Name Scientific Names Habitat Type

IUCN status

APODIFORMES : ApodidaeAsian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis (J.E. Gray, 1829) R LCHouse Swift Apus affinis (J.E. Gray, 1830) R LCCAPRIMULGIFORMES: CaprimulgidaeCommon Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus Latham, 1790 MDD LCCHARADRIIFORMES: BurhinidaeStone-Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus (Linnaeus, 1758) TS LCCHARADRIIFORMES: CharadriidaeRed-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) W LCCHARADRIIFORMES: LaridaeRiver Tern Sterna aurantia J.E. Gray, 1831 W LCCHARADRIIFORMES: RecurvirostridaeBlack-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) W LCCICONIIFORMES: ArdeidaeCattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) W LCIndian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) W LCMedian Egret Mesophoyx intermedia (Wagler, 1829) W LCLarge Egret Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus, 1758) W LCLittle Egret Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) W LCCICONIIFORMES: CiconiidaePainted Stork Mycteria leucocephala (Pennant, 1769) W NTWhite-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus (Boddaert, 1783) W LCCOLUMBIFORMES: ColumbidaeBlue Rock Pigeon Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 C LCEurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) TS, Ap LCLittle Brown Dove Streptopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) TS LCRed-collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica (Hermann, 1804) Bm,TS LCSpotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) ALL LCCOLUMBIFORMES: PteroclididaeChestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus Temminck, 1825 TS LCCORACIIFORMES: AlcedinidaeLesser Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus, 1758) W LCWhite-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) W LCCORACIIFORMES: CoraciidaeIndian Roller Coracias benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) TS LCCORACIIFORMES: MeropidaeSmall Bee-eater Merops orientalis Latham, 1801 C, TS LCCUCULIFORMES: CuculidaeAsian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea (Linnaeus, 1758) C LCGreater Coucal Centropus sinensis (Stephens, 1815) Bm LCFALCONIFORMES: AccipitridaeBlack Kite Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) C LCBlack-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789) C, TS LCEgyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758) TS, Ap ENRed-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus (Scopoli, 1786) TS CRLong-billed Vulture Gyps indicus (Scopoli, 1786) TS CRShikra Accipiter badius (Gmelin, 1788) TS LCShort-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus (Gmelin, 1788) Ap, All LCIndian White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin, 1788) TS CRGALLIFORMES: PhasianidaeGrey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus (Gmelin, 1789) Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 all LCGRUIFORMES: GruidaeSarus Crane Grus antigone (Linnaeus, 1758) W VUPASSERIFORMES: AlaudidaeAshy-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix grisea (Scopoli, 1786) TS LCPASSERIFORMES: CorvidaeHouse crow Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 All LCJungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 MDD LCIndian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda (Latham, 1790) Ap LCPASSERIFORMES: DicruridaeBlack Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Vieillot, 1817 All LCPASSERIFORMES: EmberizinaeCrested Bunting Melophus lathami (Gray, 1831) MDD LCPASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae


White-throated Munia Lonchura malabarica (Linnaeus, 1758) TS LCPASSERIFORMES: HirundinidaeDusky Crag Martin Hirundo concolor Sykes, 1833 R LCRed-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Linnaeus, 1771 Ap LCPASSERIFORMES: IrenidaeCommon Iora Aegithina tiphia (Linnaeus, 1758) C LCPASSERIFORMES: LaniidaeBay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus Valenciennes, 1826 TS LCRufous-backed Shrike Lanius schach (Linnaeus, 1758) TS LCSouthern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis Temminck, 1820 TS LCPASSERIFORMES: MonarchinaeAsian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi (Linnaeus, 1758) C LCPASSERIFORMES: MotacillidaePaddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Vieillot, 1818 C,TS LCPASSERIFORMES: MuscicapinaeTickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Blyth, 1843 Bm LCPASSERIFORMES: NectariniidaePurple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica (Latham, 1790) MDD LCPASSERIFORMES: OriolidaeEurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus, 1758) C,Bm LCPASSERIFORMES: ParidaeGreat Tit Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 Bm,TS LCPASSERIFORMES: PasserinaeYellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis (Burton, 1838) TS LCHouse Sparrow Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Bm,TS LCPASSERIFORMES: PittidaeIndian Pitta Pitta brachyura (Linnaeus, 1766) Bm,Ap LCPASSERIFORMES: PycnonotidaeRed-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) MDD,TS LCPASSERIFORMES: RhipidurinaeWhite-browed Fantail-Flycatcher Rhipidura aureola Lesson, 1830 C, Ap LCPASSERIFORMES: SturnidaeAsian Pied Starling Sturnus contra Linnaeus, 1758 C LCBrahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum (Gmelin, 1789) TS, Ap LCCommon Myna Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) All LCPASSERIFORMES: SylviinaeCommon Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769) C, MDD LCRufous-fronted Prinia Prinia buchanani Blyth, 1844 TS LCPASSERIFORMES: TimaliinaeJungle Babbler Turdoides striatus (Dumont, 1823) TS,Ap LCYellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense (Gmelin, 1789) TS LCPASSERIFORMES: TurdinaeIndian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata (Linnaeus, 1776) MDD LCOriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758) TS,MDD LCPASSERIFORMES: ZosteropidaeOriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus (Temminck, 1824) MDD LCPELECANIFORMES: PhalacrocoracidaeLittle Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817) W LCPICIFORMES: PicidaeLesser Golden-backed Woodpecker Dinopium benghalense (Linnaeus, 1758) MDD LCBlack-shouldered Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus (Boddaert, 1783) Ap LCPSITTACIFORMES: PsittacidaeAlexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria (Linnaeus, 1766) MDD LCPlum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766) MDD LCRose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) MDD LC

Abbreviations: All = All habitats, Ap = A. pendula, Bm = B. monosperma, C= cultivation, MDD = Mixed Dry Deciduous, R = Ruins, TS = Thorn Scrub and W = Wetland.CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, LC = Least Concern, NT= Near-threatened and VU = Vulnerable. Source: BirdLife International (2012)


The distributional range of Black Stork Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus 1758) spreads across Africa, Europe, Russia, Gulf country, China, Japan and Indian subcontinent (BirdLife International 2009). It is known to breed in South Africa, Spain, Russia and Eastern Europe. The bird is a winter visitor to west Pakistan, north India from Baluchistan, Sind, North West Frontier Province and Punjab through Nepal and the Gangetic plain to eastern Assam, south through Rajasthan to about Kutch and northern Gujarat (Ali and Ripley 1987). Though the bird occurs widely there are sporadic records from India (Andheria 2001). The present note gives the first confirmed sighting record of the species in Odisha.

During our avifaunal survey in Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, we encountered Black Storks at Mali Sahi area, in the central part of the sanctuary. On 13 March 2010, at 8:30 AM, we sighted and photographed a pair of stork species, foraging on the side of the stream bank (Fig. 1). The birds were identified by the presence of white under parts, black neck and under wing with distinct red bill and legs following Grimmett et al. (2009). The species is known to inhabit shallow

streams, pools, marshes and dry river beds (Ali and Ripley 1987).

Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary (20031’ 37” to 20045’37”N and 84043’ 03” to 85005’17” E) falls under Nayagarh district, encompasses an area of 163 km2 and is one of the major biodiversity conservation areas; which is also considered as the gateway of Eastern Ghats. It is contiguous with the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and comes under Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The vegetation of the Sanctuary largely comprises of Northern tropical moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests and moist peninsular low level Sal.

As per the literature available, the distribution of Black Stork was not included in the bird list of Odisha (Mishra et al. 1996). This record appears to be the first for Odisha. We sincerely appeal to all birdwatchers of Odisha to keep a close watch on the movements of the Black Stork and provide additional information about its distributional status in Odisha.

ReferencesAli, S. & S.D. Ripley (1987). Handbook of birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, Bombay.Andheria, A.P. (2001). Sighting of the Black Stork Ciconia nigra and Lesser adjutant Stork Leptoptlios Javanicus at Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka. J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 98 (3), 443–446.BirdLife International (2009). Ciconia nigra. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 03 September 2011.Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp, & T. Inskipp (2009). Birds of the Indian subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm.Mishra, Ch. G., S.K. Patnaik, S.K. Sinha, S.K. Kar, C.S. Kar, & L.A.K. Singh (1996). Wildlife wealth of Orissa. Wildlife Wing, Forest Department, Government of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar, pp 1–185.

Sighting of Black Stork Ciconia nigra (Linnaeus, 1758) in Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary: An addition to the birds of OdishaDevi P. Sahu1 and Himashu S. Palei1, 2

1 Department of Wildlife & Conservation Biology, North Orissa University, Takatpur, Baripada, Mayurbhanja, Odisha.2 Nature Environment Wildlife Society, L-II/47, Tamrit Colony, Angul, OdishaE-mail: [email protected]

Figure 1. Black Stork Ciconia nigra. Photo Himashu S. Palei

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Abstract: Specimens of the genus Grewia L. collected from Marudhamalai hills and Campus of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore were identified as G. flavescence A. Juss., G. tillifolia Vahl. var. leptopetala (Brandis) T. and G.Villosa Willd., which were not recorded for the Coimbatore district so far. This paper records them with nomenclature, descriptions and notes.

Introduction: Genus Grewia L of the family Malvaceae (formally placed in Tiliaceae) represented by 150 species is distributed in tropical warm regions of the world.

In India, Grewia accounts for 31 species (Daniel & Chandrabose, 1993). Earlier, Chandrabose & Nair (1988) records only two species from Coimbatore. They are G. tenax (Forssk) Fiori and G. abutilifolia A. L. Juss. In the analysis of the of Tamil Nadu, India, Vajravelu (1983) list 23 species for the state of Tamil Nadu.

During the exploration in Marudhamalai hills, Agricultural University campus of Coimbatore district, a few specimens of genus Grewia L. were collected. After the critical examination and perusal literature scrutiny, it is found that these species not recorded so far from Coimbatore district. Hence, in the present paper, it is reported here as three new additional species of genus Grewia for Flora of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu State. The paper presents nomenclature, brief description and ecological notes to facilitate easy recognition of this species in the field.

Grewia flavescens A. Juss In Ann. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 91. 1804; Narayanas w.w. & Rolla Rao in J. Indian Bot. Soc. 29: 187. 1950; Daniel & Chandrab. in Sharma & Sanjappa, Fl. India 3: 498. 1993. G. pilosa Wight & Arn., Prodr 1: 78. 1834, non. Lam. 1789; Mast. in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 388. 1874; T. Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 1: 151. 1958 (Repr.). G. carpinifolia sensu Mast. in Hook. f., op. cit. 387 non A. L. Juss.1804.; Vajravelu in Nair & Henry, Fl. Tamil Nadu 1: 43, 1983.

Tamil: Cencadacci

Large shrub, 2-3 m tall. Leaves 1.5-12 x 1-5 cm, ovate-elliptic, oblong or ovate-oblong, subcordate or rounded at base, usually acute or, rarely obtuse

at apex, serrate, scabrous above, tomentose beneath, 3-nerved. Flowers yellow, axillary cyme; ovary ca 2 x 0.5 mm, subglobose or ovoid, pilose; style pilose; stigma bifid. Drupes 7-15 x 5-10 mm, 2-4 lobed, globose when not

New plants records from Marudhamalai hills of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu State. (India)Vijay A. Paithane1 and A.S.Bhuktar2

1&2Vivekanand Arts, S.D. Commerce & Science College, Samarthnagar, Aurangabad (M.S.) [email protected] (corresponding author)[email protected]

Image 1: Grewia flavescence A.L.Juss

Image 2: Grewia tiliifolia Vahl.






lobed, yellowish brown, stellate-tomentose with crustaceous rind. Seeds 3-4 x 2-2.5 mm, acute at apex, rounded at base, shiny.

Fls & Frts: June to December.

Illus: Talbot., For. Fl. Bombay Pres. & Sind 1: 162, f. 99. 1909.(G. pilosa).

Distrib.: Rare, along the roadside of Marudhamalai hills.

Note: A distinct species with long yellow petals, three-nerved leaves and the peduncles longer than the pedicels.

Specimens examined: Tamil Nadu State - Coimbatore District, Marudhamalai hills, 23 Jan. 2011, Paithane V.A. 290.

Grewia tiliifolia Vahl. var. leptopetala (Brandis) T.Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 1: 142. 1901. G. leptopetala Brandis, Indian Trees 180.1909. G. tiliifolia Vahl. var. argentea Burrett in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 659.1926; Narayansw. & Rolla Rao in J. Indian Bot. Soc. 179. 1950. Daniel & Chandrab. in Sharma & Sanjappa, Fl. India 3: 511, f. 140. 1993. Tamil: ”Cadacci”, “Sadachi”, “Thadachi”.

Trees, 6-15 m tall. Leaves 1.7-36 x 1-24 cm, elliptic, elliptic-ovate or ovate-rotund, obliquely cordate at base, acuminate or rounded at apex, serrate to crenate-serrate, glabrous to hairy above, sparsely pubescent or tomentose beneath, 5-nerved. Flowers yellow, 10-15 mm across, 3-6 in axillary cymes. Ovary ca 1.2 mm across, globose, sparsely hirsute or villous; style glabrous; stigma 4-lobed. Drupes 2.5-5 mm across, distinctly 2 lobed; lobes globose, sparsely hirsute or glabrous.

Fls. & Frts: April to September.

Illus. : Bedd., Fl. Sylv. t. 108. 1871; Talbot, For. Fl. Bombay Pres. & Sind 1: 161. f. 98. 1909.

Distrib.: Cultivated in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and wild in Marudhamalai hills.

Note: Absence of glands on petals and glabrous nature is peculiar to this variety, which seprate it from the Grewia tiliifolia Vahl var. tiliifolia.

Specimens examined: Tamil Nadu State -Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University campus 23 Jan. 2011, Paithane V.A. 289; Marudhamalai hills.23 Jan 2011, Paithane V.A. 292.

Image 3: Grewia villosa Willd.

TAMIL NADU District Map


Agricultural University campus 23 Jan. 2011, Paithane V.A. 289; Marudhamalai hills. 23 Jan 2011, Paithane V.A. 292.

Grewia villosa Willd. in Ges. Naturf. Berl. Neue Schr. 4: 205. 1803; Mast. in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 388. 1874; Vajravelu in Nair & Henry, Fl. Tamil Nadu 1: 45. 1983; Daniel & Chandrab. in Sharma & Sanjappa, Fl. India 3: 515, f. 141. 1993. Tamil: Kullai.

Small trees or shrubs, 1.5-2 m high. Leaves 3-20 x 3-12 cm, rounded-ovate, orbicular or cordate at base, rounded to abruptly acuminate at apex, crenate or serrulate, ciliate along, scabrous above, villous beneath, 5-nerved. Flowers 10-12 mm across, in axillary, extra-axillary or leaf-opposed cymes. Ovary ca 2 mm across, subglobose, densely villous; stigma lancinate. Drupes 1-1.5 cm across, subglobose, obscurely 4-lobed, yellowish-red, villous.

Fls & Frts.: August-October.

Illus.: Daniel & Chandrab. in Sharma & Sanjappa, op. cit.

Distrib.: Along the temples on Marudhamalai hills slops. Note: The degree of pubescence on all parts with dull yellow colour turning reddish coloured petal peculiar to this species.

Specimens examined: Tamil Nadu State,-Coimbatore District, Marudhamalai hills. 23 Jan. 2011, Paithane V.A. 291.

Concluding note: In the exploration for the flora of Tamil Nadu State Chandrabose & Nair (1983) recorded throughout the district. However, when Nair & Henry (1988) explored for flora of Coimbatore the occurrence of the above species was not mentioned. So present paper shows occurrence of G. flavescens A. L. Juss., G. tiliifolia var. leptopetala (Brandis) T.Cooke, G. villosa Willd as a new records for the Coimbatore district flora of Tamil Nadu.

Acknowledgements: The Authors are grateful to Dr. Arvind S. Dhabe for providing herbarium facilities of BAMU, and constant support; to Dr. Milind M. Sardesai for constant guidance; to my friends Shard Kamble, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Alok Chorge, BSI, Andra Prasesh, Amit Mirgal, Ratnagiri, Mharashtra for the constant help in field tours and collection of specimens; and lastly all team of Latin Workshop organized by BSI, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

References:Chandrabose, M. & N.C. Nair 1988. Flora of Coimbatore, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, pp. 47–48.Daniel, P. & M. Chandrabose 1993. Tiliaceae In: Sharma, B. D. & M. Sanjappa (eds)1993. Flora of India. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, Vol.-3, pp. 490–515.Vajravelu, E. 1983. Tiliaceae In: Nair, N. C. & A. N. Henry, Flora of Tamil Nadu, (Analysis. Vol. I. Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore. pp. 42–46.

The Indian Alliance for Zero Extinction is actively seeking to promote communication, collaboration and cooperation between conservation NGOs, GOs and communities in India to work towards holistic conservation action of species that occur only in a single location and have a very high risk of extinction being assessed as either Critically Endangered or Endangered as per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are currently 17 recognized AZE species in India and several more that are in the process of being formally recognized. Information on the Alliance and the process is available at www.zooreach.org/indianaze.

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Note: Articles from ZOO LEX are often reprinted in ZOO’s PRINT with blanket permission from Dr. Monica Fiby the founder and Chief of ZOO LEX. This is an unusual contribution of a national park rather than a zoo exhibit but too good to miss. Be sure and see it on your computer at http://www.zoolex.org/zoolexcgi/view.py?id=1419

Ranthambore National Park is located in Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan, India. The featured animal here is the Bengal tiger Panthera tigris tigris. The capacity of the Park was 45 by 1991; 32 by 1997; 60 by 2012

The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is a natural habitat with free ranging tigers. The tigers can move freely, but are practically restricted to the reserve which is surrounded by human settlements. The tiger population living in the reserve is managed in a meta-population. The tiger habitat is in a fragile balance that needs to be managed. Tourists can book tours to the reserve and see tigers with a high probability. The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is included in the ZooLex Gallery because it shares main characteristics with zoo animal exhibits. We believe that the differences between captive and wild animal populations will blurr in the future and that we will see more holding systems in between zoo enclosures and free range reserves.

Ranthambore National Park encompasses nearly 392.5 square kilometers of dry deciduous forest in south western Rajasthan. In the 19th century the forests of Ranthambore were the private and exclusive hunting reserves of the Jaipur and Karauli royal family. Ranthambore National Park was founded by the Government of India as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in the year 1955. Later in 1973, it was declared as one of the Project Tiger reserves. In the year 1980, it became a national park.

The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve spans across the districts of Karauli and Sawai Madhopur with the National Park restricted to the tehsils (administrative units) of Khandar and Sawai Madhopur.

It is located at the junction of the Aravallis and the Vindhyas, bounded to the north by River Banas and River Chambal in the east. At the time of declaration of the Ranthambore National Park, 17 villages were located within this zone, of which all except Padra, Katholi and Mordoongri were relocated. The Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary is separated from the Ranthambore National Park by the

Sawanta-Hadoti road and several villages in this zone. These villages along with the road and the sand mining from River Banas in this regionare a constant threat to the only

Ranthambore National Park: Tigers at Ranthamborehttp://www.zoolex.org/zoolexcgi/view.py?id=1419Akanksha Chowdhary* Monica Fiby** & Brij Kishor Gupta***

Resting Tiger ©Monika Fiby, 2012

Tiger with Prey ©Naresh Sharma, 2011

Tiger with Prey ©Naresh Sharma, 2011

*Deputy Conservator of Forests at Jodhpur Zoo, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India **ZooLex Zoo Design Organization ***Central Zoo Authority, Delhi, India


existing corridor between Keladevi and Ranthambore National Park. Quarrying is another important threat to Ranthambore National Park and some parts of Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary. Similarly, the presence of 19 villages in the buffer zone of the Tiger Reserve in addition to 332 within a radius of five kilometres from the Reserve boundary exert high livestock grazing and poaching pressures on the park. The presence of religious sites within the National Park and close to Qualji Closed Area attracts large number of pilgrims, which further aggravate disturbance levels in the area.

The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve derives its name from the fort of

Ranthambore which sits on a rocky outcrop in the forest. Ranthambore Fort was established by the Chauhan Rajputs in 944 AD. Around the fort are old ruins of palaces, temples, cenotaphs, step-wells and houses. Together they are a heritage site within the park. The Ranthambore Fort is bounded by huge stonewalls which are reinforced by towers and bastions. The walls of Ranthambore Fort are about seven kilometres in length and include an area of nearly four square kilometres.

Ranthambore National Park is considered one of the important tourist destinations in the country with about 240,000 visitors as per 2010. The

annual increase of visitor numbers has been about 20% during the past few years, about half of the visitors are Indian. Visits are regulated by the reserve management. Private vehicles are not permitted.

The wildlife population of Ranthambore National Park includes tiger, leopard, striped hyena, Sambar deer, Chital, nilgai, macaque, jackal, jungle and desert cat, caracal, sloth bear, black buck, wild boar, chinkara, common yellow bat, Indian flying fox, Indian fox, mole rat, porcupine, mongoose, small Indian civet, snub nosed marsh crocodile, desert monitor lizard, tortoises, banded krait, Indian cobra, common krait, Ganga soft shelled turtle, Indian python, North Indian flap shelled turtle, rat snake, saw-scaled viper, diverse populations of 272 bird species, resident and migrant, among them graylag goose, woodpeckers, Indian gray hornbill, common kingfisher, bee eaters, cuckoos, parakeets, Asian palm swift, owls, nightjars, pigeons, doves, crakes, snipes, sandpipers, gulls, terns, great crested grebe, eagles, falcons, darters, cormorants, egrets, herons, bitterns, flamingos, ibis, pelicans, storks, pittas, shrikes, treepies, crows, orioles, cuckoo-shrikes, minivets, drongos, flycatchers, ioras, wood shrikes, pipits, bayas, sparrows, finches, wagtails, munias, bulbul and mynas.

SIZEThe Ranthambore Tiger Reserve encompasses an area of 1,334.64 km² constituted by the Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary (674 km²), Ranthambore National Park (392.5 km²), Sawai Mansingh Wildlife Sanctuary (127.6 km²), the Qualji Closed Area (7.58 km²) and other forest area (132.96 km²). Project Tiger Ranthambore is responsible for the management of 627.13 sq.km.

Rhantambore National Park is a public institution, owned and managed by the Government of Rajasthan, Department of Forests, India.

PLANTSThe vegetation at the Rhantambore National Park is mainly of the tropical dry deciduous and dry mixed deciduous type, which - in patches - has been changed to dry deciduous scrub and grasslands by human activity. The landscape is dotted with ancient banyan trees, dhok & pipal

Instructions for Visitors ©Monika Fiby, 2012

Access road to the National Park ©Monika Fiby, 2012


trees, clusters of mango trees and crisscrossed with evergreen belts.

FEATURES DEDICATED TO ANIMALSThe terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep scarps, perennial lakes and streams and forest suddenly opening up into large areas of savannah. The varied terrain and the abundance of water bodies and dense vegetation form an excellent habitat for tigers and their prey species, the sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), spotted deer (Axis axis) and on occasion wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Tiger densities in this landscape ranged between 1 to 16 tigers per 100 km². The Ranthambore-Kailadevi–Kuno–Sheopur landscape has the potential to harbour tiger metapopulations. However, their corridor connectivity has become fragile, requiring intervention of policy and restoration for functioning as effective wildlife corridors. (JHALA, 2011)

FEATURES DEDICATED TO KEEPERS12 rangers are employed by the Forest Department of Rajasthan. Their duty is to closely monitor the tigers. They are equipped with fire arms, binoculars, uniforms, mobile phones and four wheel drive vehicles.

FEATURES DEDICATED TO VISITORSThe visitor zone of the national park is open from October to July. Visitors can book excursions on canters with 20 seats or on jeeps with 6 seats. These vehicles have to stay on designated paths and are only allowed during excursion times, which are 3.5 hours in the morning and in the afternoon. Visitors have to stay in the vehicle for their security. No incidents have ever happened between tigers and tourists. Drivers do not carry weapons. Most animals in the park have become accustomed to the vehicles and simply ignore them.

With strict tiger preservation measures, tigers have become more active during the day and can be encountered by visitors in broad daylight. Sighting a tiger can never be a sure shot, but here one comes as close to it as is possible.

INTERPRETATIONAbout 70 local guides are registered with and trained by the forest

department. They inform tourists about wildlife during safaris.

Material related to nature interpretation is displayed in local language and in English too at a hall near the entrance.

MANAGEMENTThe rangers of the Forest Department of Rajasthan assist the Deputy Conservator of Forests with grazing and poaching control, forest fire control, boundary demarcation, tree planting programmes in villages around the park, pasture development for reducing grazing pressure, relocation of villages from the National Park, and man-animal conflicts. There is a cattle and crop compensation scheme. The rangers are equipped with fire arms,

binoculars, uniforms, mobile phones and four wheel drive vehicles.The rangers closely monitor the tigers. They know the individuals and their territories. Tigers can leave the national park when they choose to. They are then caught by non-invasive methods like bait traps etc. In case the tigers gets involved in fatalities or attacking persons, the Forest Department will first try to transfer these animals to the off-exhibit facility or rescue centre at zoos in the area. If the tiger cannot be trapped and causes problems, it is being shot on receipt of appropriate orders from the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Rajasthan State under the provisions laid under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A high level of human-tiger conflicts around

Tiger Crossing Road ©Monika Fiby, 2012

Interpretation Centre ©Narenda Kumar, 2012


sites like Ranthambore jeopardises tigers.An India Eco-development Project (GEF-World Bank 1991- 2002) covered animal husbandry, biogas development, development of fodder plantations on private lands, community mobilization, conservation awareness generation and training.Village Forest Protection Committees are being formed to support forest protection.

On recommendations of an expert committee, three tigers (two females and one male) were transferred from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to Sariska between July 2008 and June 2009, with the aim of re-establishing a population of wild tigers in the Reserve. A proposed supplementation of three tigers in every two years for a period of six years has been

recommended by scientists to enable a self-sustaining viable population of tigers in the Reserve (Sankar et al. 2010).

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve may be consolidated with restoration of Kailadevi through incentive driven relocation, reduction of livestock pressures, and recovery of wild prey populations. Revival of Kailadevi as good tiger habitat would have the added advantage of providing connectivity to the landscape of Kuno-Sheopur which together with Ranthambore Tiger Reserve could be managed as a metapopulation to ensure long term survival of tigers in this semiarid ecosystem. Sheopur-Shivpuri-Ranthambore corridor connects the forests of Kuno-Sheopur with those of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan). The optimal

connectivity is parallel to the River Kuno and crosses the Chambal near the confluence of River Kuno with the Chambal. The habitat matrix of this corridor consists of dry thorn forests, scrub, rain-fed agriculture and low density settlements. On the banks of the Chambal, due to fertile soils and water availability, agriculture flourishes. Yet, due to the fissured nature of the landscape, wildlife manages to cross between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and the Sheopur forests. Kuno is further connected through forest fragments and rugged landscape features with Shivpuri forests and Madhav National Park. Occasional records of tiger sightings from this region confirm that tigers are able to move between Ranthambore and Madhav National Park.

30 criteria (headline indicators) were developed by an Independent Expert Committee, to evaluate the management of tiger reserves in India. The outcomes of the process were discussed with the Field Directors of Tiger Reserves and with Chief Wildlife Wardens. The report is online: Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India: Process and Outcomes. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Government of India by Mathur, V.B., Gopal, R., Yadav, S.P. and P.R. Sinha 2011. http://www.projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/mee_tiger_2011.pdf.

According to this evaluation, the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve has an extremely good protection strategy that involves multiple departments. This tiger reserve is one of the few in the country that has engaged the other line departments in a significant way in supporting the functioning and management of threats to the reserve. The response of the Revenue and Police Departments is very good and beneficial to the reserve. NGO support and involvement with the reserve is good. As this reserve largely represents an insular population it will have to be managed as meta-population in conjunction with other such areas. The lessons learned from experimental translocation of tigers from this reserve to Sariska reserve will form the basis of meta-population management in future for all such insular tiger reserves. It also has a very high profile and attracts a lot of tourists and this can be leveraged to

Documenting Tiger Tracks ©Monika Fiby, 2012

Tourist Tours ©Ranthambore National Park, 2010


generate support for the tiger reserve and also generate significant revenue to the local communities. The tiger reserve needs to be optimized by shifting settlements out of the core and buffer and also significantly reducing anthropogenic pressures. The plans would be better served if they tie in with generating alternate income for local communities. Local people are already benefiting and supportive of the tiger reserve. But there is a need to move towards community based ecotourism and ensure that private enterprise does not siphon off the bulk of the tourism revenues. Wildlife populations are doing well. Staff have significant training in wildlife management. Tourism is almost entirely managed by private and community based facilities and this leaves the reserve staff free for protection and management duties. Human-wildlife conflict is an issue and needs to be addressed in a more comprehensive manner to generate local support for conservation among the affected communities.

RESEARCHDAYAL VIKRAM (2007) Social diversity and ecological complexity: how an

invasive tree could affect diverse agents in the land of the tiger. Environment and Development Economics 12: 553-571.

JHALA Y.V., Qureshi Q., Gopal R., and Sinha P.R. (Eds.) (2011). Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in India, 2010. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. TR 2011/003 pp-302

GOSWAMY AMIT (2011) Habitat and food resources use in relation to sex, age and group size in Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) during winter in dry tropical deciduous habitat of Ranthambore. Dissertation submitted to Saurashtra University, Rajkot, in partial fulfilment of a Masters Degree in Wildlife Science Centre for Wildlife Studies in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society, as part of a larger study, estimated populations of tigers and their prey in Ranthambore, Pench (Madhya Pradesh), Pench (Maharashtra), Tadoba, Panna, Melghat and Kanha between 1995 and 2002.A long term study on radio-collared individuals was conducted in Panna

Tiger Reserve starting early 1996 to mid-1997. The study showed that due to a low prey base in the area, the radio-collared male tiger had a home range (243 km²) more than double that of males in Chitwan, while female tigers too had it twice the size of that exhibited by females in Chitwan (Chundawat et al. 1999). The study also showed that despite the high presence of livestock in Panna, 80% of the diet of the female with cubs comprised sambar and nilgai, with a kill once in six days on an average.

Tigers were radio-collared in Ranthambore and a long term study executed (Sharma et al. 2010, Jhala and Qureshi 2011). Several short term studies have been conducted within this landscape to determine the populations or occupancy of tigers (Karanth and Nichols 1998; Biswas and Sankar 2002; David et al. 2005; Sharma et al. 2009; Gopal et al. 2010), their prey (Karanth and Nichols 1998; Mathai 1999; Bagchi et al. 2004), identification of corridors (Ravan et al. 2005; Joshi 2010; Vattakaven 2010), dietary composition of the tiger (Biswas and Sankar 2002;

Tigers Trapped ©National Tiger Conservation Authority, 2011


Reddy et al. 2004) and on habitat preferences of prey (Mathai 1999).Research work by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun: Ecology and management of wild pigs in and around Ranthambore National Park (2012). Estimating tiger population using camera traps in Ranthambore National Park (2010). Estimating herbivore abundance using line transect method in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (2005). Grazing and cutting pressures on Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan India (1988). Research Work is also initiated by the Rajasthan Forest Department. CONSERVATIONNo culling of deer or boar has been necessary so far as their numbers is limited by their predators and the carrying capacity of predators has not been reached by 2012.

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve has the potential to act as a source for tigers to other neighbouring forested areas such as Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary to the east and to forests of Kota and Bundi districts to the south.

In 1984, the park management planted Prosopis juliflora to provide fuelwood to villagers because they were perceived to be harming the park by extracting fuelwood. Prosopis juliflora is spreading through the park, and by 2007 occupied about 5% of the area of the park, to the alarm of the park managers. It is good for goats and wood, but reduces feed for wild herbivores, and thereby affects tiger prey abundance. There is uncertainty about the severity of invasion by Prosopis juliflora (about its spread and about ecological succession). Also, the ease with which tigers can prey on livestock in comparison with wild herbivores is not known. In model simulations at the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, the number of tigers varied between 0 and 150 in four different scenarios over a 100 years period (DAYAL Vikram, 2007).

LOCAL RESOURCESBetween 1976 and 1979 twelve villages that existed within Ranthambore National Park were resettled outside. As per 1991 census, there were 1210 people and 3177 cattle units in 4 villages in the core and 3055 people and around 25000 cattle units in 19 villages in the buffer zone. Wild herbivore browsers and goats compete for leaf biomass, wild herbivore grazers and cattle compete for grass.

There is an inherent trade-off between tiger numbers and village livestock grazing. While a substantial share of

the benefits of protected areas are to national and foreign outsiders, a substantial share of the costs may be borne by locals who face restrictions on the use of natural resources. Recently, a land use and forest map of Ranthambore National Park revealed wide ranging problems due to biotic pressures that exist on the buffer and fringe areas of the forest. In the last years, extra vigilance against poachers and a series of training programmes for the staff have been conducted. Several NGO's such as WWF try to develop collective strategies for the future.

Tiger Sight at the Waterhole ©Monika Fiby, 2012

Peacocks and Boar ©Monika Fiby, 2012

Publication Information

ZOO’s PRINT, ISSN 0973-2543Published at: CoimbatoreOwner: Zoo Outreach Organisation, 96, Kumudham Nagar, Vilankurichi Road, CBE 35

Editor: Sally R. WalkerAssociate Editors: R.V. Sanjay Molur and Daniel B. AyyachamyManaging Editor: Latha G. RavikumarEditorial Assistant: R. Marimuthu

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The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’s Centre for Wildlife Studies (KVASU-CWS) is located among the forest clad hills of Wayanad, the green heart of Kerala. The Centre was established in 2011 as a token of the University’s commitment to wildlife education and research. One of the major initiatives of KVASU-CWS is the MS (Wildlife Studies) programme. The admission for the second batch of students for the current academic year is presently open.

I. Abstract of the programmeName of programme: MS (Wildlife Studies)Duration of programme: 2 yearsEligibility: Bachelor’s degree in Biosciences (Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, Veterinary, Forestry etc.)Mode of selection: Entrance exam conducted by KVASUNumber of seats: 5Last date for application: 15.10.2012 (Details can be obtained from the KVASU website www.kvasu.ac.in)

II. Features of the programme• A unique post graduate programme that gives a chance for all bioscience graduates desiring to

work with wildlife to specialize in the area.• Course conducted in technical collaboration with Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi,

and other national and international experts.• Guest lectures by experts from national and international organizations specializing in wildlife

education and research and the Forest Department.• One year student research on a topic preferably identified by the student under scientists from

KVASU, KFRI, Zoological Survey of India, the Biodiversity Board etc.•Research in association with international experts on man-animal conflict and wild animal stress and welfare being developed.•Training for students in the zoos, rehabilitation centres and forests in India under expert guidance.•International training modules for students envisaged.•Field trips to study the important forests and ecosystems of different parts of India under expert guidance.•Students gain practical knowledge on the application of molecular techniques in wildlife conservation and the care and management of free ranging and captive wildlife from experts in the respective fields.•Students gain an overall insight on the global issues concerning wildlife conservation and the concept of Conservation Medicine.

For more details contact:Dr. George Chandy, Officer-in-Charge, KVASU Centre for Wildlife Studies, Pookode, Lakkidi P.O., Wayanad, Kerala 673 576. Email: [email protected]

Announcement: Kerala State Veterinary University Offers a New MS Programme in Wildlife Studies.

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