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Vibhu Prakash wins Marsh Award for bird conservation
London, Feb 27: Vibhu Prakash, principal scientist of the Bombay Natural History Society received the prestigious marsh award for bird conservation for his outstanding contribution to science and conservation.
London, Feb 27: Vibhu Prakash, principal scientist of the Bombay Natural History Society received the prestigious marsh award for bird conservation for his outstanding contribution to science and conservation.
At a formal ceremony held at the Nehru Centre here last
night, Prakash received a cheque for 4,000 pounds and a
citation from Brian Marsh, the founder of the 16-year old
scheme.
Prakash, who started his career in 1980 as a research assistant with the Bombay Natural History Society, spent 20 years at the Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur in western Rajasthan studying the ecology of raptors.
Speaking on the occasion, Prakash said when he started his work two decades ago, the Indian white-backed vulture was regarded as possibly the commonest large bird of prey in the world, and in cities such as Delhi flocks of several thousand birds were present at some sites.
"Now this bird along with the long-billed vulture has the dubious distinction of being classified as critically threatened, placing it among the world's bird species most threatened with global extinction.
"The reasons for these dramatic declines are still not fully understood, but it is becoming increasingly clear that infectious disease is the likely cause. Across the country, vultures appeared lethargic and sick with drooping heads, and dead birds were frequently found," Prakash said. Bureau Report
Prakash, who started his career in 1980 as a research assistant with the Bombay Natural History Society, spent 20 years at the Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur in western Rajasthan studying the ecology of raptors.
Speaking on the occasion, Prakash said when he started his work two decades ago, the Indian white-backed vulture was regarded as possibly the commonest large bird of prey in the world, and in cities such as Delhi flocks of several thousand birds were present at some sites.
"Now this bird along with the long-billed vulture has the dubious distinction of being classified as critically threatened, placing it among the world's bird species most threatened with global extinction.
"The reasons for these dramatic declines are still not fully understood, but it is becoming increasingly clear that infectious disease is the likely cause. Across the country, vultures appeared lethargic and sick with drooping heads, and dead birds were frequently found," Prakash said. Bureau Report