Rare Himalayan griffon critically injured, rescued

editorial@tribune.com

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, September 9

A critically injured Himalayan griffon (vulture), a rare species of bird, was rescued at Udaipur in tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti by forest officials with the help of local youths. The bird was noticed by local youths of Udaipur lying on the ground. It was unable to move or fly.

They informed forest officer Shiv Kumar, a wildlife lover, who rushed to the spot to rescue the bird.

“We picked up the bird and took it to a veterinary hospital for treatment. The bird was given injection and treated for more than nine days to enable it to recuperate from injury,” Shiv Kumar told The Tribune.

“During that period we kept the injured Himalayan griffon under CCTV camera observation to keep close vigil on the improvement of its health. Finally, after nine days the vulture was found physically fit and we took it to a higher point to release it in the open. Finally, the bird flew, which delighted us,” he said.

“The rescue team members were Ishaan Rashpa, Guru Rana, Mahesh, Aamir Jaspa. The injured Himalayan griffon was saved because of the sensitivity of local people toward wildlife”, he said.

He said the Himalayan griffon is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae. Related to the European griffon vulture and once considered a subspecies of it, this species is found along the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau. It is one of the two largest Old World vultures and true raptors.

He said Himalayan vultures are susceptible to toxicity induced by diclofenac, a drug whose residues in domestic animal carcasses has led to rapid decline in population of other gyps vultures. The Himalayan griffon vulture population has, however, not shown signs of rapid decline although reductions in nesting birds have been noted in several parts of Nepal.