Himalayan griffon
07-02-2024
10:59 AM
1 min read
Overview:
In the first-ever tri-State synchronised vulture survey 320 individual vultures were counted in the seven-protected areas spread over Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and Himalayan griffon is only reported from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
About Himalayan griffon:
- It is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae.
- It is one of the two largest Old World vultures and true raptors.
- These are monogamous and pairs return to the same nesting and roosting sites from year to year.
- These are diurnal and mostly solitary species.
- Distribution:
- It is found along the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan regionand is also found in the Central Asian mountains.
- Occasionally it migrates to northern India but migration usually only occurs altitudinally.
- Conservation status
- IUCN: Near Threatened
Key facts about Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary
- It is located in Kerala and is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- It is contiguous to the tiger reserves of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka and Madhumalai of Tamil Nadu.
- The Kabini river which is a tributary of the Kaveri River flows through the sanctuary.
- Vegetation: It includes moist deciduous forests and West coast semi-evergreen forests
- Flora: It consists of plantations of teak, eucalyptus and Grewelia.
- Fauna: Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sambar, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Nilgiri langur etc.
Q1:What type of vegetation is there in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve?
It harbours a wide spectrum of ecosystem types such as tropical evergreen forests, Montane sholas and grasslands, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and thorn forests. The major part of the core areas spread over Kerala and Tamil Nadu States.
Source:Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary offers a safe haven for vultures