From 22 to 347: How a Maharashtra village banned loudspeakers and saved its vultures

In 2002, the village of Chirgaon in Maharashtra took action to protect its vulture population by banning DJs and loudspeakers. This decision was driven by concerns for the critically endangered vulture species, which had seen a staggering 99.8% decline in population. Under the leadership of Premsagar Mestri, founder of the NGO Seescap, the village embarked on a two-decade-long conservation effort that has transformed its vulture population from just 22 birds to 347.

Mestri, who had been involved in avian surveys since the 1990s, became deeply involved in vulture conservation after witnessing a 99.8% reduction in vulture numbers. Realizing the importance of vultures in the ecosystem and the impact of human attitudes towards them, the villagers made significant changes to their behavior. They stopped cutting trees and collecting forest produce, set up a nursery of native tree species for vultures to nest on, and cleared dry vegetation to prevent forest fires.

Residents also refrained from collecting fallen trees for firewood, ensuring that vultures' habitats remained undisturbed.

The turning point came in October 2000, when Mestri discovered only 22 vultures during a routine field visit. He stayed with the village's sarpanch, Kishor Gulgule, and noticed the birds' declining health, leading to a decision to start feeding the vultures. The villagers began feeding them dead cattle and mutton, securing food sources that the government had previously restricted.

Despite challenges, such as the 2020 cyclone Nisarga, which reduced the population by 30%, the vulture numbers continued to grow. In the most recent count conducted in 2022-23, the village's vulture population reached an impressive 347 birds, making Chirgaon one of the most remarkable success stories in wildlife conservation.