INTERNATIONAL VULTURE AWARENESS DAY
INTERNATIONAL VULTURE AWARENESS DAY
September 3, 2016
International Vulture Awareness Day is observed on the first Saturday of September every year and this year it falls on 3 September. The day is observed globally with an aim to educate and create awareness among the people about the threats faced by the vultures and the important role they play as scavengers by consuming carrion or dead animals which is very much helpful in preserving the environment, free of disease and infection by virus/pathogens. Many species are under threat and some are almost on the brink of extinction.
FACTS:
There are around 21 species of vultures in the world. 16 species found in Old World (Africa, Asia and Europe) and five in New World (America).
A group of vultures when resting is called a ‘committee’ or ‘venue’. The term ‘kettle’ refers to the flying vultures.
*The Rueppell’s griffon vulture is the world’s highest flying bird. In 1973, one collided with an airplane off the Ivory Coast; at the time, the plane was flying at 37,000 feet.
*One of the few animals to use tools, Egyptian vultures use rocks to break open ostrich eggs
*The bald, or lightly-feathered, head is specially designed to stay clean even when confronted with blood and bodily fluids present in the carcasses. Any remaining germs are baked off by the sun.
*New World vultures have the unusual habit of urohydrosis — defecating on their legs to cool them by evaporation.
*By consuming the carcasses of diseased animals, vultures prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases such as rabies and anthrax among animals and humans.
Let us help and support the voluntary organizations to carry out their activities in vulture conservation by way of funding or taking part in the awareness programmes.
*(source: http://annamiticus.com/)
Image credit: www.kidszoo.org / www.animalphotos.me
