IMPACT OF HABITAT QUALITIES ON THE BREEDING ACTIVITIES OF HIMALAYAN GRIFFONS ( GYPS HIMALAYENSIS HUME , 1869 ) : A CASE STUDY FROM AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR , PAKISTAN

Global declining populations of Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis) in South Asia have arisen the alarming situation, which highlighted the need to explore the current status of this vulture in the region. Breeding biology and ecology of Himalayan Griffon (HG) is little known globally. This study assessed the habitat utilization of HG in Hattian and Muzaffarabad districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan with special reference to its relationship with breeding activities. Thus, four breeding colonies located at Sarli Sacha, Chumm, Talgran and Nardajian were monitored during 2005, 2007-2010 to assess the habitat preferences. The maximum (70%) nests were placed in open rocky area in Sarli Sacha and minimum (30%) in Talgran. Most (60-98%) of the nesting cliffs were facing towards the eastern aspect, except Talgran, which showed 70% southern exposure. Overall cliffs facing east direction showed positive correlation with number of active nests (r= 0.80) and occupied nests (r= 0.69). Positive correlation was also recorded between percentage of rocky area of cliffs with mean number of active nests (r= 0.79) and occupied nests (r= 0.89) in all study sites. There was negative correlation of percentage of cultivation (r= -0.70) and rural development (r= -0.95) with mean nesting site population.

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