Context:  

Moyar valley is the biggest nesting colony of critically endangered Gyps vultures in the wild.

Background:

Moyar Valley, also known as Maayar Valley, stretches approximately 85 kilometers from Gudalur through the core area of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

About GYPS VULTURES:

1. The Gyps vultures, including the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian Vulture (G. indicus), and Slender-billed Vulture (G. tenuirostris), have faced rapid population declines since the mid-1990s in India.
2. These vultures are endemic to South Asia and play a crucial role in the ecosystem by scavenging carcasses.
3. The primary cause of their decline was poisoning due to the widespread veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac in cattle.
4. As a result, all three species were listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.