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Journalism of Courage
IT8217;S a happy sight. The vultures were hovering in the sky while gradually losing altitude. One after another they are settling on trees. The number starts soaring. At least 150 birds have landed on the trees scattered in a few hundred yard area. Two wildlife wardens, Gunraj Singh and Sukhdeep Singh Bajwa, continue watching the birds. The numbers are still going up.
The phenomenon is not usual. Especially when the vultures have white backs and underwings. The 8216;almost extinct8217; Asian white-backed vultures had made a surprise comeback in this part of Punjab.
IT is a positive sign if the birds are multiplying in the natural manner. The birds are white-backed vultures. The very species we are struggling to save through captive breeding,8217;8217; says Dr Vibhu Prakash, associated with Bombay Natural History Society, after watching the video clippings of the birds.
Prakash says that these birds breed slow and live long. Their quick recovery from near extinction is difficult. According to Prakash if there are about 300 birds, NGOs and government agencies should ensure that Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat cattle and which some research says could be the cause of vultures dying, is not used in these areas.
Ludhiana-based vet Dr Ripudaman Kaur says that since dairy farming is not too developed in Kandi and that since there is little medical help around, the drug perhaps is not largely used. The villagers still prefer traditional methods of treating their sick animals. Says a villager Shyam Singh, 8216;8216;The vultures are getting food that is not contaminated.8217;8217;
