State - April 5, 2025

Synchronized Vulture Survey-2025 in Tamil Nadu Reveals Steady Rise in Vulture Numbers

team maverick April 5, 2025

0 4 min read

Vultures provide crucial ecosystem services in natural, agricultural, and rural environments, particularly by efficiently recycling nutrients through organic waste disposal as obligate scavengers. Over the past three decades, India has witnessed a drastic decline in populations of White-Rumped Vultures, Long-Billed Vultures, Red-Headed Vultures, and Slender-Billed Vultures—leading to their classification as Critically Endangered species.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has undertaken several conservation measures, including the enforcement of bans on harmful drugs like diclofenac and nimesulide, habitat protection, and continuous population monitoring.

The Synchronized Vulture Survey for 2025 was jointly conducted by the Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Tamil Nadu coordinated the effort, covering Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary. The corresponding survey areas in Kerala and Karnataka included Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.

This marks the third landscape-level synchronized population estimation, held on February 27 and 28, 2025. The “vantage point count” method was used across 106 locations, with Tamil Nadu alone covering 33 sites. The estimated vulture population across the landscape was 390 for 2024–25, compared to 320 recorded in the 2023–24 survey—indicating a steady increase.

Tamil Nadu recorded 157 vultures, reflecting an upward trend. The White-Rumped Vulture was the most numerous species (110 individuals), followed by Long-Billed Vultures (31), Red-Headed Vultures (11), and Egyptian Vultures (5).

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve continues to be a key breeding ground, with 8 locations hosting 60 active nests and an estimated 120 vultures—primarily White-Rumped Vultures (108), followed by Long-Billed Vultures (10) and Red-Headed Vultures (2). Notably, 34 chicks were observed, underscoring a thriving breeding population. A Red-Headed Vulture nest was also recorded here for the first time in southern India.

Vulture Population (Vantage Point Count Method)

Sl. No	Protected Area	No. of Vantage Points	White-Rumped	Long-Billed	Red-Headed	Egyptian	Total
Tamil Nadu
1	Mudumalai Tiger Reserve	20	97	14	8	0	119
2	Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve	10	13	17	3	0	33
3	Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary	3	0	0	0	5	5
	Total – Tamil Nadu	33	110	31	11	5	157
Karnataka
4	Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple TR	15	8	0	0	0	8
5	Bandipur Tiger Reserve	32	51	14	12	0	77
6	Nagarhole Tiger Reserve	8	14	2	7	0	23
	Total – Karnataka	55	73	16	19	0	108
Kerala
7	Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary	18	105	3	17	0	125
	Total – Kerala	18	105	3	17	0	125
	Grand Total	106	288	50	47	5	390

Senior officers of the Government of Tamil Nadu, members of the State Board for Wildlife, the Tamil Nadu State-Level Committee for Vulture Conservation, subject experts, researchers, and birding volunteers from across the state participated in the survey.

The census report was officially released on April 4, 2025, by Dr. K. Ponmudy, Hon’ble Minister for Forests & Khadi, in the presence of Tmt. Supriya Sahu, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Climate Change & Forests), Thiru Srinivas R. Reddy, I.F.S., Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Thiru Rakesh Kumar Dogra, I.F.S., Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, and members of the Vulture Conservation Committee.

Issued by:
DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai – 9