Vulture conservation awareness meet held in Kulsi

By Abhijit Kalita
Guwahati,July 23: A vulture awareness meeting was held at Kulsi Janajatiya High School, jointly organized by the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC),Rani and the Kulsi Range Forest Office on Tuesday. The VCBC is a collaborative effort between the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Assam Forest Department.
The program saw the participation of forest officials, local NGO representatives, Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) members, forest village headmen from the surrounding areas, and youth activists from nearby villages.
The event began with a welcome address by Jayanta Kumar Rabha, a member of VCBC, Rani followed by a detailed presentation highlighting the key vulture species found in Assam — the White-rumped Vulture (Lower Assam), Slender-billed Vulture (Upper Assam), and Red-headed Vulture (Kaziranga area). He also discussed migratory species such as the Himalayan Griffon, Eurasian Griffon, and Cinereous Vulture, along with other native species like the Long-billed Vulture. Rabha also emphasized on the status of vultures in Assam and India, their ecological significance, and the major threats they face. He also highlighted the harmful impact of veterinary drugs like Diclofenac, which are lethal to vultures when they consume treated livestock carcasses. He urged the community to switch to safer alternatives such as Meloxicam and Tolfenamic Acid.
Following this, Sachin P. Ranade, Senior Centre Manager, VCBC, Rani, introduced the innovative concept of a “Vulture Restaurant” in the Kulsi area — a managed space where villagers can deposit animal carcasses to ensure a safe and toxin-free food source for vultures. He highlighted how such initiatives could promote eco-tourism and generate livelihood opportunities for local communities.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Kankanjyoti Kaushik, range officer of Kulsi. He reaffirmed the critical ecological role vultures play in natural carcass disposal, thereby preventing the spread of diseases. He invited villagers who may have a suitable open area to support the establishment of a Vulture Restaurant and assured full cooperation from the Forest Department.
The Kulsi Range Forest Office has been conducting such awareness programs regularly to involve local communities in vulture conservation efforts and ensure long-term ecological sustainability.