. White-backed Vulture /White–rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) Manipuri: Langja nam dang
- Critically Endangered: CR -
The Threatened Birds of Manipur

R.K. Birjit Singh *

. White-backed Vulture /White–rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) Manipuri: Langja nam dang

Classification:

Kindgdom Animalia
Phylum Chordatata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: bengalensis
Binomial Name:
Gyps bengalensis
(Gmelin, 1788)
Red List Category & Criteria:IUCN: Crtically Endangered (CR) D ver 3.1

Hunters record of shooting and killing of the species in Manipur

Year	Number
1963	03
1978	01
Total	04

History of the Species:

The White–rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) was described by J.F. Gmelin in 1788. Formerly described as possibly the most abundant large bird of prey in the world,this species global population almost certainly numbered several million individuals. The species has suffered an extremely rapid population decline primarily as a result of feeding on carcasses of animals treated with the veterinary drug diclofenac.

Once reported fairly common in most of the hill districts of Manipur and between Jiri Mukh and western boundary of the state. Hume failed to record even a mature species except a young and juvenile species during 1864-66. Three individual species was killed by the villagers at Shajouba village of Senapati district in, 1963 and one in 1978 for ritual exorcism practice to drive away evil spirit from the village by hanging the carcass of the dead body in bamboo plank.

This ritual is still practicing in this village. In the hill districts of Manipur, they are also known as “Tree Killer Birds” as the birds’ acrid excreta can kill off the tree if exposed for a longer period.

Description of the species:

Size: Length: ± 75-85 cm. Brownish black body with scrawny neck. A light grey or whitish ruff of soft feathers around the base of the neck. Sexes alike and a broad whitish band along the underside of wings distinguish the species from other vultures.

Distribution: The species was widespread resident and found in most of the parts of Pakistan, India through Assam and Manipur along the Himalayan ranges, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The species may be possibly extinct as there is no new record of confirm sighting in its habitat range.

Food: Carcass meat and splinter bones.

Status in Manipur: Not seen since 1978

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* R.K. Birjit Singh wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer is Environmentalist/Ornithologist and a State Coordinator, IBCN, Manipur and can be contacted at bsningthemcha(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was posted on October 09, 2014.

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