long-billed vultures/Kaghaznagar Forest Division and adjoining Deccan Plateau.

This news article discusses a 14-year study on the long-billed vulture ($Gyps$ $indicus$) in the Kaghaznagar Forest Division of Telangana, India. The main finding is that these critically endangered birds are breeding less successfully, and their population is rapidly declining.

Key Points from the Study:

•  Long-billed vultures ($Gyps$ $indicus$), which are slow-reproducing (typically one nestling per year) and critically endangered due to past diclofenac poisoning.

• Location and Duration: A 14-year study (2010–2023) across two cliff-nesting colonies in the Kaghaznagar Forest Division and adjoining Deccan Plateau.

• Declining Numbers: The number of occupied nests attempting to breed plummeted dramatically:

  • 2019: 23 occupied nests

  • 2023: Just 1 occupied nest

• Overall Breeding Success: Out of 161 pairs that attempted to breed, they laid 116 eggs, and 85 chicks successfully fledged (left the nest).

• Primary Negative Factor Identified: The toxicity level in the effluent discharged from the Sirpur Paper Mill into the Peddavagu stream.

  • This dark-black effluent contains chemicals exceeding safety limits.

  • The stream is the vultures’ primary water source for drinking after feeding.

Study Significance:

• This was a long-term study specifically focused on the breeding ecology and nest success of $Gyps$ $indicus$, providing detailed insights compared to previous short-term, general studies.

• Researchers compared breeding outcomes annually against multiple environmental variables (temperature, rainfall, wind, surface pressure, dew, and local water toxicity) using statistical models to pinpoint the most influential factors.

 Geographical Context:

• The nesting cliffs (Palarapu and Lakkameda) are near the Peddavagu stream and Pranahita river.

• This landscape is a crucial wildlife corridor connecting the Kawal, Tadoba-Andhari, and Indravati Tiger Reserves.