As a scorching summer in Madhya Pradesh raises concerns over the safe-keeping of local wildlife and fauna, an ongoing vulture census has revealed a steep decline in the sightings of the scavenger bird species within the Indore Forest Division. Data collected till Saturday, the second day of the three-day census, highlighted a complete absence of vultures in the Mhow and Ralamandal sectors, sparking larger concerns over their safety.
Forest Officials Attribute Decline to Summer Heat
Forest officials attributed the trend to the severe summer heat, drying forest water bodies, and a shrinking habitat. The census, being conducted across 33 designated locations spanning four forest ranges, has indicated that all recorded vultures belong to the Egyptian vulture species. A comparative analysis shows a significant drop in the number of vultures compared to the winter census conducted in February 2026.
Local Migration and Food Scarcity
Speaking to TOI, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Lal Sudhakar Singh said the drop in summer counts stems from localised migration. As natural water bodies dry up inside core forest zones, the birds relocate to distant areas with perennial water sources. Modern sanitation protocols mean livestock carcasses are rarely discarded in the open, cutting off the vultures' primary food supply, he said, adding that this change is starkly visible in Indore's Devguradia area—formerly a major vulture nesting site due to a nearby trenching ground—where only a single vulture was spotted.
Systemic Challenges Highlighted by Former Official
Former forest official PC Dubey highlighted deeper, systemic challenges threatening the local vulture population. Historically, the widespread veterinary use of the painkiller Diclofenac caused fatal kidney failure in vultures feeding on treated livestock carcasses, Dubey said, adding that while the chemical threat has been legally curtailed, newer challenges have emerged. Urbanisation, along with rapid road and railway development, has drastically reduced the dense forest canopy, removing the tall trees and high rocky cliffs vultures require for nesting and breeding, experts pointed out further.
Census Data Comparison
The census data shows a stark contrast between winter and summer counts. During the winter census on February 21, sightings included 15 in Indore, 127 in Choral, 5 in Manpur, 4 in Mhow, and 0 in Ralamandal. On the first day of the summer census (May 22), sightings dropped to 10 in Indore, 14 in Choral, 2 in Manpur, 4 in Mhow, and 0 in Ralamandal. By the second day (May 23), numbers were 12 in Indore, 46 in Choral, 4 in Manpur, 0 in Mhow, and 0 in Ralamandal. Forest teams will conclude the synchronised census on Sunday to finalise the statewide population assessment.
