The image above (left) shows the immature Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) fitted with wing tag and satellite telemetry released on 10th May 2007 at Doi Lang, Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was photographed by Kanit Khanikul and made available to us through the good office of Dr Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua of Kasetsart University, Thailand.
Also released at the same time were four Himalayan Griffons (Gyps himalayensis).
It has since been reported by Dr Chaiyan, who oversaw the release, that the vulture was shot by a villager in Mynamar on July 2007.
The map above showing where vulture was released and where it was shot was provided by Allan Teo.
4 Responses
But why would someone want to shoot a scavenger? I don’t think a vulture poses much of a threat to livestock or even poultry…
Reminds me a lot of the villager who was recently arrested for actually shooting and eating a Philippine Eagle. *shudders*
Some people simply shoot, catapult, throw stones, whatever… at anything that is unfamiliar, unusual, strange… that is all.
Good point.
I was thinking more of how quite a number of people still appear to believe that the only good raptor is a dead raptor. Witness how even in North America and Europe, we do have people who shoot and poison birds of prey, in an attempt to protect poultry or livestock, or to increase numbers of wild game. Then there was also a recent report of pigeon fanciers who made a habit out of killing peregrine falcons and bragging about the act.
Managed to get this from http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/22/asia/AS-GEN-Thailand-Myanmar-Dead-Vulture.php
“The soldier told me that the villager had never seen such a bird so became curious and shot it,” Chaiyan said. “It is common practice in Southeast Asia when people have a gun to shoot and look later. This is a tragedy.”