GYPS VULTURE RESTORATION PROJECT – ROLE OF CAPTIVE BREEDING IN ENDANGERED SPECIES MANAGEMENT
U. Khan and C. Murn*
WWF – Pakistan
*Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8DY, UK
Corresponding author e-mail: ukhan@wwf.org.pk
ABSTRACT
The population of the Gyps vultures has declined in South Asian region to 80- 95% in recent years. The primary cause of this rapid decline is attributed to the widespread use of a NSAID, Diclofenac in the livestock, however, other causes of vulture decline are habitat destruction, pesticides poisoning etc. In order to restore the population of Gyps vultures conservation centres have been established in South Asia. The primary aim of these centres is to hold safely a population of the species affected. Once the environment is safe for vultures, they can help in reintroductions or supplementations to the wild. In Pakistan such a centre has been established at Changa Manga for Gyps bengalensis. This centre is managed by WWF – Pakistan in partnership with the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, whilst technical and financial support of The Hawk Conservancy Trust, UK and keystone funding comes from the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, UAE. The Birds of Prey have many success stories of population restoration through captive breeding and reintroduction, some examples are California Condor Gymnogyps californianus, Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus and Griffon vulture Gyps fulvus. Techniques such as double clutching and hacking have been successful in increasing the breeding rate and improving reintroduction success. In Changa Manga a large communal aviary holds fifteen Gyps bengalensis. Sex determination has been done genetically and birds have been inserted microchipped and ringed for individual recognition. Within the aviary, potential breeding birds have access to artificial nest sites (shallow woven baskets, wooden baskets) and nests retrieved from the wild. A roosting/nesting ledge has also been developed for potential breeding pairs. Ungulates are kept alive for at least five days before they are slaughtered to be fed to the birds, this is done to ensure that had there been any Diclofenac injected is excreted out the system. Furthermore, breeding facility for rabbits has been developed and goats are also bred at the facility to maintain a variety in the diet and sustainability. The aviary at the Conservation Centre at Changa Manga has a capacity of approximately 30 vultures and four separate breeding aviaries have been developed already. These are arranged so that all the pairs are able to see each other that would help in synchronising breeding. The project faces the challenges of implementation of Diclofenac ban in veterinary practice, increase awareness to stop the use of human formulations in the veterinary practice and to increase the founder population of G. bengalensis in the conservation centre. Successful captive breeding and release programme has been internationally agreed as the most appropriate conservation intervention of the conservation of Asian Gyps vultures.
Keywords: Gyps vultures, Diclofenac, holding facilities, captive management.
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