White-rumped vulture rescued from Nilambur soars again over Wayanad

Forest officials rescued a critically endangered White-rumped vulture found weak and grounded at Mampad near Nilambur last week. It was a rare sighting of a vulture for both residents and forest staff.

The rapid response team (RRT) of Nilambur South Division took the bird into care and provided treatment under Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer Shyam. After two days, it was shifted to Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, where the Sulthan Bathery RRT monitored it for another two days before releasing it at Kakkappadam, a key hotspot for Kerala’s vulture population.

Karimpuzha Wildlife Warden Dhanik Lal G. said this was the first vulture sighting in Nilambur in recent times. Though its origin remains unclear, officials believe it may have drifted from Wayanad, Kerala’s only known vulture habitat, possibly in search of food, said Vishnu O., biologist and vulture conservationist at the sanctuary. He said the bird had no major health issues.

White-rumped vulture being given care at Nilambur.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN

Wayanad Wildlife Warden Varun Dalia said that vultures were a sign of healthy forest ecology and that the region supported a strong population of different vultures. The survival of vultures is closely related to predators like tigers and leopards.

Wayanad hosts White-rumped, Red-headed, and Indian vultures. A 2024 raptor survey had recorded 80 vultures in the sanctuary, and three-fourths of them were White-rumped vultures.

Mr. Vishnu said that Wayanad also attracted migrant species such as the Himalayan griffon, Cinereous and Egyptian vultures. Across the Nilgiri landscape spanning Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, around 300 White-rumped vultures were recorded in the last count. “This is the largest population of White-rumped vultures in India,” said Mr. Vishnu.

A wake of vultures feeding on a carcass at Kakkappadam, Muthanga.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN

“Unlike parts of North India, where vulture numbers declined due to toxic contamination from dependence on dumping sites, Wayanad’s vultures largely feed on natural carcasses. Diclofenac poisoning is also far less prevalent here,” said Mr. Vishnu.

Globally, the species’ population has crashed from millions in the 1980s to fewer than 6,000 in 2021.

“With a wingspan of about 2.5 metres, watching this bird soar high in thermals is a remarkable sight,” said Wildlife Assistant Rahul R. Thermals or rising warm air enable vultures to soar effortlessly to great heights without flapping their wings while searching for food.