Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2019 | 11(10): 14377–14380

 

 

Some recent evidence of the presence of the Critically Endangered Gyps vulture populations in northern Shan State, Myanmar

 

Sai Sein Lin Oo ¹, Nang Lao Kham ², Kyaw Myo Naing ³ & Swen C. Renner ⁴

 

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Mandalay, 05032 Maha Aung Myay Township, Mandalay, Myanmar.

² Department of Zoology, Lashio University, 06031 Lashio, Shan State, Myanmar.

³ Department of Zoology, Pathein University, 10014 Pathein Township, Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.

⁴ Ornithology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, 1080 Vienna, Austria.

1 seinlinu@gmail.com, 2 laokham01@gmail.com, 3 kyawmyonaing77@gmail.com, 4 swen.renner@gmail.com (corresponding author)

 

 

doi: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4886.11.10.14377-14380   |  ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F3AE954-26E0-4092-8113-F80FEB32B840

 

Editor: Chris Bowden, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Sandy, UK.    Date of publication: 26 August 2019 (online & print)

 

Manuscript details: #4886 | Received 12 February 2019 | Final received 10 May 2019 | Finally accepted 31 July 2019

 

Citation: Oo, S.S.L, N.L. Kham, K.M. Naing & S.C. Renner (2019). Some recent evidence of the presence of the Critically Endangered Gyps vulture populations in northern Shan State, Myanmar. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11(10): 14377–14380. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4886.11.10.14377-14380

 

Copyright: © Oo et al. 2019. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.  JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: Self funded.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to U Sai Win Khaing (Mong Yai) for financial support and also for transportation during the field study.  Our thanks also go to Sai Lon for helping during the field trip.

 

 

Four species of vultures are found in Myanmar, namely, Sarcogyps calvus Red-headed Vulture, Gyps bengalensis White-rumped Vulture, G. tenuirostris Slender-billed Vulture, and G. himalayensis Himalayan Vulture (Htin Hla et al. 2011).  Of these, the latter three are present in Kachin, Shan State and Sagaing Region (Tordoff et al. 2007; Htin Hla et al. 2011; Shwe & Aung 2016), and G. himalayensis is additionally observed in Chin State (Htin Hla et al. 2011).

Gyps bengalensis was abundant in Myanmar and considered as the most common vulture in Myanmar throughout the plains in the early 20th Century (Smythies 2001; Naing et al. 2012).  The population of vultures decrease in many parts of their former distribution ranges has been generally attributed to food shortage, chemical poisoning (i.e., diclofenac), and other human impact.  Consequently, the population size decreased (Robson et al. 1998; BANCA 2007; Tordoff et al. 2007; Htin Hla et al. 2011; Shwe & Aung 2016), and the more recent status remains uncertain for all four species for most of the country (Pain et al. 2003, 2008).

On 27 November 2018, we observed a flock of G. bengalensis (Critically Endangered; BirdLife International 2017), G. tenuirostris (Critically Endangered; Birdlife International 2016b), and G. himalayanensis (Near Threatened; BirdLife International 2016a), in Man Sant Village, Mong Yai Township, Northern Shan State, Myanmar (22.43°N, 97.92°E; see map).  The flock was feeding on the carcass of cattle (likely accidental death).  The most notable feature of our observation was the presence of G. bengalensis and G. tenuirostris: we could observe as many as 38 vultures of three species (G. bengalensis: 31, including six juveniles; G. tenuirostris: 5; G. himalayensis: 2).

The vulture flock departed westwards three days after they completely consumed the carcass.  The local people were apparently familiar with vultures, informed us that they also occur in Nar Ma Lan Village, Nam Lan Village and Ho Ti Village, all of which are located within a 15-km radius from Man Sant Village.

Unfortunately, we failed to observe any nests or nesting sites of the flock.  The local people confirmed frequent observations of the three species from April to May (the local breeding season according to the information we obtained from the locals; October to March after Robson 2011) in the area of interest, particularly before monsoon, indicating possible breeding attempts in the area.

Htin Hla et al. (2011) reported G. bengalensis as more abundant than G. tenuirostris during their survey in Chin State, Kachin State, and Shan State.  Additionally, they also stated that G. bengalensis were recorded regularly associating with other vulture species in Myanmar (1997 to 2006).  In Shan and Chin states, G. bengalensis was regarded as the most common vulture species in the early 20th Century (Rippon 1901), but was hardly reported in recent decades (Sayer & Han 1983; Htin Hla 2003; Bezuijen et al. 2010).  Although the current population status of G. bengalensis in these states is not known, Htin Hla et al. (2011) estimated a minimum of 62 individuals during surveys in 2006 and 2007.  They also estimated that the overall population of vultures in Myanmar was at least 136 individuals.  Congruent with these observations, Tordoff et al. (2007) reported G. bengalensis with a daily maximum of 62, along with 12 G. tenuirostris in the Kamaing area, Kachin State.

Using open interviews questions, we also recorded information on the beliefs of some local villagers; the locals use body parts (especially bones) of vultures for belief-based use.  Shwe & Aung (2016) found the vulture bone trade in southern Shan State as a significant challenge for vulture conservation.  Similarly, feathers, bones, meat, beak, claws, faeces and internal organs of vultures have been used as traditional ‘medicine’ since ancient times in China (Leung 2006).  Many Myanmar do not have a positive attitude towards vultures, but the local people informed us that they avoided consumption of vultures or their parts, because they are considered disgusting (in taste) and have a putrid odour.  Additionally, as in Nepalese communities, many people assume that vultures are a bad omen and bring ruin or bad luck, because vultures are associated with death (Baral & Gautam 2007).

Threats to vulture populations in Myanmar are manifold; but the major threats are nest destruction (tree), poisoning (poison baits targeting other species such as mammals) and low food supply (Htin Hla et al. 2011).  Contrasting with many sites in India, diclofenac has not been documented so far for Maing Yaw Village, Lashio, Naung Pho Mae Village, Shan State, Naung Kwin, Indawgyi Lake, or Kachin State (Htin Hla et al. 2011; Shwe & Aung 2016).  Congruent with this observation, the township medical officer of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department in Shan State informed us that the practice of using veterinary diclofenac is absent for cattle treatment in the township (Dr. Soe Naing Win, pers. comm. 2018), while diclofenac is used by many veterinarians widely in Myanmar (Bowden 2019).  Although G. bengalensis and G. tenuirostris were distributed in most of the Indian subcontinent and southeastern Asia, its population declined rapidly in the 1990s and 2000s (Bildstein 2017).  Bildstein (2017) indicated a decline of over 95% of the entire population in a rough estimation.  Our recording of several juveniles suggests breeding may well occur in Myanmar although the dispersal range of vultures is huge.

We recommend further surveys of the vultures in the region, paying particular attention to locating any breeding attempts for all three species.  Finally, food is likely the limiting factor for vulture populations in Myanmar (Bowden 2019), hence maintaining uncontaminated food resources to support the local population should be beneficial.

 

For figure & images – click here

 

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