RETURN OF WHITE SCAVENGER OR EGYPTIAN VULTURE (Neophron percnopterus) IN PUNJAB

摘要

A natural scavenger, the vulture has been a friend of the human race for centuries due to its usefulness. In India, there are eight species of Old World vultures found in different geographical regions (Ali and Ripley, 1987). Four species have been reported from Punjab (Toor et al, 1982). The author conducted field surveys over a period of 5 years, which revealed the absence of vultures in and around the animal disposal centers in different districts of Punjab. During recent surveys in Kapurthala District, a group of white scavenger or Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) was sighted at one animal disposal center, which was a startling observation as earlier efforts to locate these birds had not previously yielded any success.