Rare sighting of King & Himalayan vultures sparks hope in Kheoni

Indore: For the first time, King vulture and Himalayan Griffon vulture have been sighted in Kheoni wildlife sanctuary, as forest department prepares to start a three-day winter vulture census from Friday.Kheoni wildlife sanctuary superintendent Vikash Mahorey told TOI that the sightings marked a change from the previous year, when only two Egyptian vultures were recorded in the area."It is for the first time that King vulture and Himalayan Griffon have been seen here," Mahorey said. He added that Kheoni was home to 162 species of birds, including owls such as Dusky, Eurasian, and Jungle Owlet, along with species of eagles, kingfishers, and Silver and Red Munias.In Indore forest division, officials reported a continuing drop in vulture numbers. The forest department said counts would now be conducted twice a year, in February and April, to support conservation planning. Records cited by the department show that 284 vultures were counted in Indore district in 2016, which fell to 97 in 2019. In 2023, 114 vultures were recorded, while last year's count recorded 86.For the upcoming survey, 38 locations have been identified in Indore, including Patalpani, Devguradia trenching ground, Kajligarh, and Tinchha Fall.The statewide census, held annually since 2016, will deploy trained teams to record data between 6 am and 8 am. Teams will photograph and count species including the Egyptian, White-rumped, King, Long-billed, and Eurasian vultures.