Feeding and Breeding Ecology and the conservation of the Vultures in Cambodia
Abstract
There has been a dramatic decline to near-extinction among Asian vultures. In the Indian subcontinent, large populations of Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus and Slender-billed Vulture G. tenuirostris were found until the early 1990s (Pain et al. 2008). Thereafter these species declined dramatically by more than 95% across their range (Prakash et al. 2003, 2005a, b), and all three are currently listed as “Critically Endangered” (BirdLife International 2009). The reason for this decline is the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, and ketoprofen which are widely used to reduce pain, inflammation and fever in livestock, but turned out to be highly toxic to vultures. In this study several methodologies will be used to provide new insights for the conservation of the three vulture species in Cambodia: 1) Video recordings of as many as possible vultures at restaurants to analyse feeding behaviour and inter- and intra specific behaviour of the three vulture species. For this we need to use at least 2 video cameras and hard disks to collect data from different sites simultaneously. This will give us an insight in the abundance, frequency, daily rhythms and inter- and intra specific behavioural traits that could help to take conservation measures. 2) Mapping of nest sites and assessments of breeding and feeding activity, predation risk and breeding success by behavioural observations through nest guards. 3) Questionnaires will be performed with a wide range of local people to estimate factors of threat (poison, diclofenac, ketoprofen, persecution) and to get more information on roosting or nesting places. This can help to collect further data on nest sites and on vulture restaurants. This will supplement the knowledge on the abundance of vultures at carcasses and annual minimum population counts already done by WCS and the conservation measures to be taken in the future. Additionally by using the questionnaire as a means for starting a dialogue, crucial information on vulture conservation, on the sustainability of the vulture restaurants and their impact on the local economy can be spread. The project aims to improve and transfer knowledge of the feeding and breeding ecology of the three Critically Endangered vulture species in northern Cambodia, to take conservation action and to make recommendations for their conservation management, particularly focusing on the main factors influencing the species’ mortality, distribution, nest failures and effectiveness of nest protection. The project aims further to build local capacity and to give information and implement action for the conservation of all the three vulture species in Cambodia. To summarize: This research will greatly contribute to the little knowledge we have on the feeding and breeding ecology and the threats and will take action on the conservation of the three vulture species in northern Cambodia.
keywords lifestock breeding red-headed vulture behavioural ecology
Publikationen
Project staff
Sabine Hille
Priv.-Doz. Dr.rer.nat. Sabine Hille
sabine.hille@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83223
Project Leader
15.12.2009 - 30.01.2011
BOKU partners
External partners
Maarten Bleeker, field researcher
none
sub-coordinator
Forestry Department
none
partner
Ministry of Environment
none
partner
Stihl Stiftung
none
partner
Französische Gesellschaft für Arten und Populationsschutz
none
partner
Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB)_x000D_ _x000D_
Markus Handschuh
partner
Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations
Roland Wirth
partner
Wildlife Conservation Society
Hugo Rainey
partner
German Falcon Society
none
partner
Reimund Koza
none
partner
Verein der Freunde des Zoo Wuppertal
none
partner
Zoo Heidelberg_x000D_
none
partner
Zoo Berlin_x000D_
none
partner