Vultures of Pakistan

1. VULTURE OF PAKISTAN
PRESENTED BY: IMAD-UL-DIN ZANGI

2. INTRODUCTION
 Vulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved, usually
scavenging birds of prey.
 The new world vultures (North and South America) and the old world
vultures(Europe, Africa and Asia).
 Particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald head, that may play an
important role in thermoregulation (ward et al., 2008).
 Vultures perform a vital role in nature’s sanitation processes by tearing meat
from carcasses before it rots.
 Old world vultures are long-lived, have low reproductive rates, high adult
survival and a low juvenile survival (Wynne-Edwards 1955; Amadon 1964;

3. Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
CLASSIFICATION

4. VULTURES OF PAKISTAN
There are eight Vulture species in Pakistan. Seven are Native to
Pakistan.
One (King/ Indian Black vulture) is vagrant.
 Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopyrtus)
 Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
 White backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
 King/ Indian Black vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
 Cinereous/ Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monach)
 Long billed/ Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)
 Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis)
 Bearded Vulture/Lammergeyer (Gypaetus barbatus)

5. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopyrtus)
Habitat and Ecology: Typically nests on ledges or in caves on cliffs , crags and
rocky outcrops, but occasionally also in large trees, buildings, electricity pylons
and exceptionally on the ground. Forages in lowland and montane regions over
open, often arid, country. Also scavenges at human settlements.
Found in Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Status: Endangered (IUCN)
Date Assessed: 2014-07-24
Assessor(s): Birdlife International
Population Trend: Decreasing

7. Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Habitat and Ecology: It is a species of expansive open areas in a wide array of
environments, from mountains to semi-desert, and is recorded regularly from
sea level up to c.3,000 m.
Behavior: Some birds are migratory, although many others are resident or
nomadic.
Breeding site: The nest is usually built on a rocky outcrop, with sheltered ledges
or small caves preferred.
Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Date Assessed: 2013-11-01
Population Trend: Increasing

9. White backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
Habitat and Ecology: It occurs mostly in plains and less frequently in hilly
regions where it utilizes light woodland, villages, cities, and open areas. It feeds
on carrion, both putrid and fresh. While feeding considerable aggregations can
form, and regular communal roost sites are used. It is social and usually found in
conspecific flocks. It breeds in colonies in tall trees, often near human
habitation.
Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN)
Date Assessed: 2014-07-24
Population Trend: Decreasing

11. King/ Indian Black vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
Habitat and Ecology: It frequents open country usually away from human
habitation, well-wooded hills and dry deciduous forest with rivers, usually below
2,500 m. Nesting has been recorded in tall trees.
Vagrant: Pakistan
Native: Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; India; Myanmar; Nepal; Thailand; Viet
Nam
Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN)
Date Assessed: 2013-11-01
Population Trend: Decreasing

13. Cinereous/ Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monach)
Habitat and Ecology: The species inhabits forested areas in hills and mountains in
Asia, where it occupies scrub and arid and semi-arid alpine steppe and grasslands
up to 4,500m(Thiollay 1994).
It forages over many kinds of open terrain, including forest, bare mountains,
steppe and open grasslands. Nests are built in trees or on rocks.
Status: Near Threatened (IUCN)
Date Assessed: 2013-11-01
Population Trend: Decreasing

14. Long billed/ Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus)
Habitat and Ecology: It is found in cities, towns and villages near cultivated
areas, and in open and wooded areas.
This species feeds almost entirely on carrion, and often associates with White-
rumped Vulture G. bengalensis when scavenging at rubbish dumps and
slaughterhouses.
Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN)
Date Assessed: 2013-11-01
Population Trend: Decreasing

15. Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis)
Habitat and Ecology: This species inhabits mountainous areas, mostly at 1,200-
4,500 m, but has been recorded up to 6,000 m (Ferguson-Lees and Christie
2001).
In winter it moves lower down, with juveniles wandering into the plains.
History: Least Concern 2012 (IUCN)
Status: Near Threatened (IUCN)
Date Assessed: 2014-07-24
Population Trend: Stable

17. Bearded Vulture/Lammergeyer (Gypaetus barbatus)
Behaviour: It is resident where is occurs, but has vast home ranges, and juveniles will wander even
more widely than adults (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).
Habitat The species occupies remote, mountainous areas, with precipitous terrain, usually above
1,000 m, and in particular areas where large predators such as wolves and Golden Eagles are
present, and there are herds of mammals such as mountain goats, ibex, and sheep.
Diet: The species will forage over vast distances (up to 700 km in one day has been recorded), using
a soaring flight. Its principle food is carrion.
History: Least Concern 2013-14 (IUCN)
Status: Near Threatened
Date Assessed: 2014-07-24
Population Trend: Decreasing

19. Vultures in Balochistan
Egyptian Vultures
Eurasian Griffon
Cinereous vultures/ Eurasian Black Vulture

20. Vultures in KP
Himalayan Griffon Vulture

21. Vultures in Punjab
Egyptian vulture
Griffon Vulture
White-backed vulture

22. Vultures in Sindh
Egyptian Vulture.
Griffon Vulture.
White-backed vulture.
King Vultures.
Cinereous Vulture/Eurasian Black Vulture.
Long billed vulture.

23. Major Threats
•Non-target poisoning
•Direct persecution
•Habitat degradation
•Disturbance of breeding birds
•Inadequate food availability
•Changes in livestock-rearing practices
•Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

24. Gyps Vulture restoration Project
In 2004 WWF-Pakistan launched the Gyps Vulture Restoration Project in Pakistan.
The immediate project objective is to conserve a viable population of Gyps
bengalensis in a safe and secure environment. Once secured, the breeding potential
of the captive population must be realized.
Plans for Pakistan’s first conservation breeding facility for vultures began in 2005.
Government approval, land allocation, facility design, fundraising and staff selection
took place over the following 18 months.

25. Gyps Vulture Colonies in Punjab
Changa Manga (approximately 80 km south-west of Lahore)
Dholewala (approximately 90 km north-west of Multan)
Toawala (approximately 50 km northeast of Multan),

27. Recommendations
Conduct coordinated surveys to monitor the species National population trend.
Assess the threat posed by diclofenac and other drugs used in livestock.
Assess the impacts of climate change on Vultures.
Reduce disturbance in and around nesting areas.
Mitigate against the impacts of power lines.
Combat the threat of persecution through laws and awareness-raising activities.
Provide feeding stations throughout the species range.

28. THANK
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