DIMINISHING GLORY OF WHITE RUMPED VULTURE (GYPS BENGALENSIS): HERITAGE OF KANHA TIGER RESERVE, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA.

Vultures are potent scavenges of forest ecosystem. Their food preference includes carcasses of mammals and farm livestock animals, like other raptors they are not true hunters instead they depends on hunters kill. They are top members in food chain making ecosystem neat and clean from the dreadful pathogens spreading diseases among mammals, thus helps to maintain ecological balance of the existing ecosystem. In India there is existence of nine vulture species, prominently among them Himalayan Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender billed Vulture, Red-Headed Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Eurasian Griffon and White-rumped Vulture. As per IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature White-rumped Vulture is categorized as Critically Endangered. Henceforth proper conservation measure is need of time. During survey in Kanha National Park, we found nesting of White-rumped Vulture at the tallest Saal Tree serving as best habitat within reserved forest area. Our study helps conservators to understand the habitat ecology and conservation tactics for future management to conserve them in natural habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]