CHANCHAL GOLA/ Ramnagar
In an encouraging development, a group of rare white-rumped vultures has been spotted in the Teda area of the Ramnagar forest division, adjoining the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Notably, the sighting of more than six vultures together has raised optimism among wildlife enthusiasts and experts.
A renowned wildlife photographer Deep Rajwar captured this rare moment on camera. He later stated that spotting vultures has always been challenging due to their drastic population decline in recent years.
According to Rajwar, vultures were earlier spotted in 2017 in the Jhirna Zone and again in the Teda area in 2021. Now, in 2026, the sighting of more than six vultures is being seen as a strong positive sign for the species’ revival.
He further explained that vultures are often referred to as nature’s “cleaners” as they play a crucial role in maintaining environmental hygiene by feeding on carcasses. This time, a total of seven vultures were seen together, indicating a possible increase in their population.
A well-known ornithologist Sumanta Ghosh noted that vultures had been once found in huge numbers across the country, but their numbers have sharply declined over the past decades. “The primary reason behind this decline is the use of certain medicines in livestock, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Residues of these drugs remain in animal carcasses and when vultures consume them, it leads to severe health issues like kidney failure. As a result, vulture populations in India have declined by as much as 99.9 per cent,” he commented.
He also added that earlier nesting colonies of this species had been commonly found around Ringora, Hathidagar and nearby Gujjar settlements. “Unlike many other vulture species that nest on cliffs, white-rumped vultures build their nests on trees,” he noted.
Speaking on the matter, the director of the Corbett Tiger Reserve, Saket Badola stated that populations of several vulture species have declined by up to 95 percent over the past decades. “However, protected areas like Corbett continue to serve as safe habitats for these rare species,” he said.
