NEW BREEDING AND ROOSTING LOCALITIES OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE GYPS BENGALENSIS (GMELIN, 1788) IN RAISEN DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Abstract

The present study aimed to report and provids an account of the population status, nesting
behavior, and conservation threats faced by the Critically Endangered w hite rumped Vultures
Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin, 1788) (Aves, Accipitriformes, Accipitridae) in Baairukhhar
village, Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh, India in the month of April 2023. In the current
s tudy, the nesting and roosting sites were systematically surveyed and a total population of 98
to 102 w hite rumped vultures were recorded. For roosting purposes, the w hite rumped
vultures preferred high canopy trees, including s acred fig Ficus religiosa L ., 1753 and Teak
Tectona grandis L. f., 1782 in the area. A total of 12 nests of w hite rumped vultures were
observed, all of which were located on high canopy F . religiosa trees with an 800 meter radius
within and around the Baairukhhar Village outskirts. The presence of this critically
endangered species in an anthropocentric area could have adverse effects on their breeding
success and lead to a decline in the population within the landscape.