Nine different species of vultures are found in India, of which six are exclusive to Assam.
“Of the six species found in Assam, three are critically endangered,” revealed Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) biologist Raunak Ghosh.
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He was speaking at an awareness meet on the conservation of endangered vulture at Dhakuwakhona in Lakhimpur district on Monday.
“The three most critically endangered species of vulture found in the region are Oriental White Backed, Slender Billed and King Vulture,” Ghosh said.
Ghosh further informed that the vulture population is constantly declining.
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“The population of vulture presently is sixty thousand, which some 20 years back the population was 40 million,” Ghosh reiterated.
“Vultures play an important keeping the bio-diversity and ecology intact,” Ghosh said.
“They keep a balance in the environment and keep away epidemics like cholera, rabies, anthrax,” he reiterated.
The BNHS biologist stressed the need for their conservation by keeping protecting tall trees like Shimalu.
He informed that the Griffon and Sinerious vultures from the Himalayas and Europe visit Assam every year during winter.
A short film on vulture conservation was also screened on that occasion.
Digendra Nath Hazarika, president of Dhakuwakhona Science Society and an active member of Megamix Nature Club, forest officer Chandra Kanta Das, teacher Kamakhya Saikia and Cheniram Baruah also spoke at the awareness meeting.
The meet was organized by BNHS in association with department of veterinary Dhakuwakhona sub-division. It was held at Dhakuwakhona B.Ed College.