WWF-India Launches Vulture Count 2024 to Safeguard Nature’s Critical Clean-Up Crew

Nationwide citizen-science initiative aims to track vulture populations and raise awareness on International Vulture Awareness Day
An orientation session will be hosted virtually by expert birder Nirav Bhatt to provide volunteers with essential training and information on identifying vultures

New Delhi, August 30, 2024 – WWF-India, in collaboration with Bird Count India and eBird, is thrilled to announce the launch of Vulture Count 2024, a crucial citizen-science initiative aimed at monitoring and conserving India’s vulture populations. Scheduled from 7th September to 6th October 2024, the count will coincide with International Vulture Awareness Day, which is on September 7th.

Vultures are essential to the health of ecosystems, serving as nature’s clean-up crew. By feeding on carrion, they prevent the spread of diseases that could otherwise affect wildlife, livestock and humans. Their role in consuming decomposing animal carcasses helps with nutrient cycling and maintains ecological balance.

However, vulture populations in India have faced a dramatic decline due to several threats, including the ingestion of toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac, commonly used to treat livestock, as well as habitat loss, electrocution, food scarcity and human disturbances. The alarming drop in vulture numbers has led to some species being classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

Vulture Count 2024 aims to address this crisis by systematically monitoring vulture populations. Gathering comprehensive baseline data will help track population trends, identify critical habitats, and assess the impact of environmental changes. This information will be vital for developing targeted conservation strategies and policies, and for raising public awareness and support for vulture conservation.

“Vultures are nature’s scavengers. Their role in the ecosystem is paramount. Vulture Count 2024 represents a significant opportunity for citizen scientists, bird enthusiasts and local communities to contribute to vulture conservation and to increase awareness about them,” said Dr. Dipankar Ghose, Senior Director - Biodiversity Conservation, WWF-India. “With the support of dedicated volunteers, we aim to gather crucial data that will guide our efforts in conserving these threatened birds.”

Building on the success of counts done in previous years, which saw over 500 volunteers and more than 500 checklists submitted through the eBird application, this year’s Vulture Count invites local birding organizations, ornithologists, photographers and naturalists from across India to participate.
 
 The count will focus on key vulture species, including the white-rumped vulture, red-headed vulture, Indian vulture, bearded vulture, slender-billed vulture, Himalayan griffon, Eurasian griffon, Egyptian vulture, and cinereous vulture.

To help the public participate effectively in the count, WWF-India will host a virtual orientation session conducted by expert birder Nirav Bhatt on 6th September. This session will provide volunteers with essential training and information on identifying vultures in their respective areas.

WWF-India has also recommended several locations for public participation, making it easier for people from various regions to join the effort:

Sr. No.	State	Nearest City	Location/GPS
1	Assam	Guwahati	Kamrup - Dorabeel
2	Chandigarh	Chandigarh	Mallaha Moud carcass dump
3	Gujarat	Kachchh	Lakhpat Taluk
4	Gujarat	Surat	Dang
5	Himachal Pradesh	Solan	Shahpur Village
6	Karnataka	Bengaluru	Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary
7	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal	Geedgarh
8	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal	Halali Dam
9	Maharashtra	Pune	Mangaon, Raigad
10	Rajasthan	Udaipur	Menar bird village
11	Rajasthan	Bharatpur	Keoladeo NP
12	Rajasthan	Bikaner	Jorbeer
13	Rajasthan	Kota	Gapernath
14	Rajasthan	Jaisalmer	Deg Rai Mata Oran
15	Tamil Nadu	Coimbatore	Mudumalai TR
16	Tamil Nadu	Coimbatore	Satyamangalam TR
17	Uttarakhand	Dehradun	Raipur Cricket Stadium
18	Uttarakhand	Dehradun	Langha Road Carcass Dump
19	New Delhi	Delhi	Ghazipur Landfill
20	New Delhi	Delhi	Asola Bhatti WLS

About WWF-India 
WWF-India is committed to creating and demonstrating practical solutions that help conserve India's ecosystems and rich biodiversity. With a conservation journey spanning over 50 years, WWF-India works towards finding science-based and sustainable solutions. Our holistic and integrated approach assists in addressing challenges at the interface of development and conservation. WWF-India is part of the WWF network, with offices in over 100 countries. We work in different geographical regions pan-India through state and field offices. The uniqueness lies in the interconnectedness of our work and its impact across thematic areas- including conservation of key wildlife species, management of their habitats, rivers and wetlands, climate change adaptation, driving sustainable solutions for business and agriculture, and empowering local communities as conservation stewards. WWF-India
also works to combat illegal wildlife trade and bring environmental education to students through outreach and awareness campaigns.   
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For any further query please contact:
Komal Chaudhary
Senior Manager-Media & PR, WWF-India
kchaudhary@wwfindia.net