For vultures near Dehradun, 2.4 km separates survival from electrocution

A decade-old study published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa suggests that relocating a livestock carcass dump 2.4 km away near Dehradun, Uttarakhand, may have saved vultures from electrocution. The research, conducted by a team of scientists from the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, documented electrocution mortality of vultures in the Sudhauwala region of Dehradun.

The study recorded 46 vulture carcasses attributable to electrocution, with the highest proportion of mortality relative to observations recorded for the Himalayan griffon, Eurasian griffon, and cinereous vulture. Following the relocation of the carcass dumping site, subsequent observations indicated continued use of the new site by vultures with no mortality events recorded during limited post-relocation monitoring.

The study highlights the potential of relocating carcass dumping sites away from hazardous power infrastructure as a practical conservation measure for reducing vulture mortality.

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