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Context :

• The Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary is in the news because it has successfully bred the critically endangered long billed vultures for the 4th consecutive year.
• This is a significant progress in vulture conservation efforts.
• These vultures were facing challenges of habitat loss, poisoning & other environmental threats.
• But This continued success of breeding in the sanctuary is seen as a hopeful sign for the future.
• Recently, 50 Egyptian vultures were also spotted, though the long-billed vulture remains the focus of conservation efforts.

Key Highlights

• Successful Breeding:
  • Vultures breed only once a year.
  • There is a consistency of successful breeding over 4 years significant for the species recovery.
• Conservation Efforts:
  • The Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary was established in 2012 as India’s first vulture sanctuary.
  • Its aim was to conserve the long billed vulture & other endangered species.

About Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary

• Location: It is Situated in the Ramadevara Betta Hill Range in Ramanagara district Karnataka India.
• Purpose: it was Established to conserve and protect vultures, especially rare species like the Long-billed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, and White-backed Vulture.

Significance and Conservation Efforts

• Vulture Conservation:
  • The sanctuary is a safe habitat for vultures. It provides ideal nesting & feeding sites in its rocky terrain and cliffs.
  • Vultures play an important role in the ecosystem by scavenging It also prevents the spread of diseases.
• Vulture Decline Crisis:
  • Earlier , Vulture populations faced a sharp decline due to diclofenac.
    • It is a veterinary drug that proved toxic to vultures when they consumed cattle carcasses treated with it.
  • The establishment of the Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary was a response to this decline..
• Vulture Species at the Sanctuary:
  • 3 species of vultures found in the sanctuary:
    • Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) - Critically endangered, successfully breeding.
    • Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) - Less endangered but still at risk.
    • White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) - Also endangered.

Flora and Fauna of the Sanctuary

1. Flora:

• Dry Deciduous Forests: Anogeissus latifolia, Schleichera oleosa, Terminalia tomentosa, & Terminalia arjuna are common in the region.
• Thorny Scrub: This area has species such as Grewia tilaefolia, Santalum album (sandalwood), Shorea talura, & Emblica officinalis (amla).
• Moist Deciduous Forests: The Vitex altissima tree..

2. Fauna:

• Mammals: leopards, golden jackals, wild boars, sloth bears, spotted deer, barking deer, bonnet macaques, & Indian crested porcupines.
• Reptiles: various species of reptiles, including lizards, snakes, frogs, & toads.

Cultural and Religious Significance

• Ramadevara Betta Hill:
  • The sanctuary is located near Ramadevara Temple.
  • It is a religious site that adds cultural & spiritual value to the area.
  • Visitors to the sanctuary also visit the temple. It makes it a significant site for both wildlife enthusiasts & pilgrims.

Source: TH