Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus)

The recent survey conducted by WWF - Pakistan unfortunately revealed that only about 220 White-backed vultures are remaining in the Punjab Province. This ecologically important species is gradually moving towards extinction. This comprehensive survey of the White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) was conducted in December 2006 in collaboration with the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department. This time of the year was selected because it is the breeding season of the species therefore it is easier to locate the breeding colonies. Information was collected from 22 different sites for this comprehensive survey. These sites had some of major colonies of White-backs in the last five years, out of these 22 sites, 20 were surveyed and the information about the remaining two sites was collected through relevant departments. Results show that Toawala in Khanewal district is the only white-backed vultures’ colony in Punjab with 100 breeding pairs. Daphar Plantation has only four pairs or eight birds, one pair of Griffon vulture was also sighting, a few Egyptian vultures were also sighted. Rest of the breeding colonies including Kundian Plantation in district Mianwali have been abolished with a few old and abandoned nests.

The research in South Asia suggested that the widespread use of Diclofenac in livestock maintenance led to the Gyps vulture population decline. WWF – Pakistan lobbied with the relevant government such as Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, Pakistan agriculture Research Institute,Pakistan Veterinary Association, University of Animal and Veterinary Science and non-government organisations, IUCN, Royal Society for Protection of Birds, The Peregrine Fund to support ban of diclofenacin Pakistan. WWF – Pakistan raised the issue with the Standing Committee on Environment of the National Assembly of Pakistan. WWF – Pakistan distributed publications on Diclofenac experimental testing on vultures and population data of vultures to gain support. WWF – Pakistan regularly presented arguments against Diclofenac at the meetings of Standing Committee on Environment where all the relevant ministeries were present. Consequently with much resistance from the Drug manufacturers, orders were issued by the Chairperson of Standing Committee on Environment to ban Diclofenac. The Ministry of Health banned diclofenac drug in September 2006 and Drug Registration Board registered Meloxicam which is suggested as the safe alternative by the research conducted by RSBP and Pretoria University, South Africa.

WWF – Pakistan recommended the areas of last strong of the species;Toawala and Rangpur canal area near Multan in the Punjab Province as the sanctuary. Taowala is the only area where a breeding colony of this species is found and it is also a significant area because this holds the largest colony of this species in South Asia. The field visits of WWF – Pakistan revealed that the habitat is being degraded rapidly and Sheesham trees are extracted and 98% of the vultures’ nests were found on Sheesham. WWF – Pakistan developed the GIS maps of the area, marking the trees with vulture active nests and recommended these two sites as protected areas. Consequently the area of 154 sq. km. was notified as protected by the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department.

The project with the support of Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) has set up a vulture conservation centre at Changa Manga. WWF - Pakistan is maintaining birds as a safe population and is providing them diclofenac free food. The male and female vultures look the same, therefore, the project team organised genetic sex determination of the captive vultures.In January 2007 Dr. Arshad Haroon Toosy was invited from EAD to collect blood samples of 10 captive vultures for DNA sexing. Aluminium rings and coloured rings were placed on the legs of the birds for their individual identification.