| Long-billed Vulture |
Article Index for Long-billed |
Shopping Vulture |
Website Links For Vulture |
Information AboutLong-billed Vulture |
The Long-billed Vulture, ''Gyps indicus'', is an Old World Vulture in the family Accipitridae , which also includes Eagle s, Kite s, Buzzard s and Hawk s. It is closely related to the Europe an Griffon Vulture , ''G. fulvus''. Some sources treat the birds in the eastern part of its range as a separate species, the '''Slender-billed Vulture''' ''Gyps tenuirostris''. It breeds on crags or in trees in mountains in India and South-east Asia , laying one egg. Birds may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. Like other Vulture s it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead Animal s which it finds by soaring over savannah and around human habitation. It often moves in flocks. The Long-billed Vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald head, very broad wings and short tail. It is smaller and less heavily-built than European Griffon. It is distinguished from that species by its less buff body and Wing Covert s It also lacks the whitish Median Covert bar shown by Griffon. This and the (another NSAID) has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove to be an acceptable substitute. In March 2006 diclofenac was still being used for animals throughout India and the changes in Indian legislation are awaited. When meloxicam production is increased it is hoped that it will be as cheap as diclofenac. Captive breeding programes for several species of Indian vultue have been started. The vultures are long lived and slow in breeding, so the programms are expected to take decades. Vultures reach breeding age at about 5 years old. It is hoped that captive breed birds will be released back to the wild when the invironment is clear of diclofenac. EXTERNAL LINK |
|
|