Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Open Reservoir Water Proposed to Protect Nilgiris Vultures
Vultures help nature by eating dead animals and organic waste.
This helps stop diseases from spreading among animals and people.
Many vultures live around the Moyar valley in the Nilgiris.
Their small jungle water pools are drying up because the monsoon brought less rain than usual.
Dr. B. Ramakrishnan says this could make it harder for vultures to drink and find food.
It could also affect their breeding and the health of their chicks.
He suggested releasing water from the Sandynallah reservoir near Ooty.
That water could flow downhill to the Segur plateau and help the vultures survive the dry period.
Wildlife expert B. Ramakrishnan urged opening Sandynallah reservoir near Ooty.
He said depleted water sources in the Segur plateau threaten vultures.
The Nilgiris experienced below-average southwest monsoon rainfall during its first three months.
Water flowing from Sandynallah to the Segur plateau could support vultures in the Moyar valley.
Ramakrishnan warned water shortages could affect vultures’ feeding, breeding and chick health.
- Who
- Dr. B. Ramakrishnan, head of the Department of Wildlife Biology at Government Arts College, Ooty.
- What
- He proposed opening the Sandynallah reservoir to provide water for vultures in the Nilgiris.
- When
- After the first three months of the southwest monsoon brought less than average rainfall.
- Where
- From Sandynallah reservoir near Ooty to the Segur plateau in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve buffer zone and the Moyar valley.
- Why
- Drying jungle water sources could affect vultures’ drinking, feeding, breeding and chick health.
- Expert
- Dr. B. Ramakrishnan, head of the Department of Wildlife Biology at Government Arts College.
- Proposed water source
- Sandynallah reservoir near Ooty.
- Target area
- The Segur plateau in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve buffer zone.
- Affected wildlife
- Vultures living and breeding in the Moyar valley.
- Weather concern
- The first three months of the four-month southwest monsoon failed to bring average normal rainfall.
- Conservation role
- Vultures consume carcasses and organic waste, helping limit the spread of disease.