1 June 2010 was the official start of Mahseer Conservancy’s 2010/2011 vulture programme.  The following report is a summary of the work undertaken during the June 2010 period.  A series of monthly reports will be made throughout the year. 1.      Monitoring of vulture colonies Ringora Village Elsa Legrand has been monitoring the Ringora Vulture colony over the June period.  Over this time, from the 14 June 2010, it has been noticed that every evening, after the heat of the day, many of the vultures (around 40%) found in the colony are perched in trees with their heads drooped forwards...

In an observation that has alarmed conservation activists and wildlife scientists, the near-extinct Indian White-backed Vulture, inhabiting Ringora village in Ramnagar, has been showing signs of a disturbing illness caused by heat stress, that experts warn will bode the death of the endangered species if not addressed immediately. Researchers of Corbett-based Mahseer Conservancy, who have been undertaking the annual vulture monitoring exercise in the region, report that every evening, after the heat of the day, as many as 90 per cent of the vultures in the colony can be found perched on trees...

Today we hear of so many species ‘facing extinction’ or ‘wiped out over most of their range’ that we can become slightly de-sensitized and numb to what seems at time to be a grim and inevitable play with us playing the villain. In the last twenty years three species of Indian vulture have gone from being one of the most prolifically abundant raptors to top of the IUCN Critically Endangered list. The reason behind the current Indian Vulture disaster that befell those graceful giants of the sky is the same as for the cause of the declines in so many other species; humans. But is there something...

Hanuman and Ram Ram Leelas are one of the most celebrated festivals in the Hindu religion. The format is for every town and village to hold their own Ram Leelas re-enacting the Ramayana – the story of Rama – over 10 consecutive days, telling each “chapter” of the story on the different days. The general overview of the Ramayana is that after Rama, Lakshman and Sita are exiled into the forest Sita is kidnapped by the king of Lanka, Ravana. With the help of the monkey army led by Hanuman and also some vultures who have seen Ravana taking Sita, Rama and Lakshman begin their epic voyage...