Interactive Awareness Session for Livestock Farmers & Artificial Insemination Agents | Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve | Sept 2025 | #vultureday25
An interactive meeting was organised at Solagar Doddi, Thalavadi block in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve with livestock farmers and artificial insemination agents.
On the occasion of International Vulture Awareness Day 2025, the event was organised by Arulagam, a nature conservation organisation based in Coimbatore that has been advocating for vulture conservation with various stakeholders for the past fifteen years. Prof. Dr. Punniyamurthy, a renowned ethnoveterinary practitioner, was invited as a special guest. He shared the knowledge he gained during his time as a professor at the Veterinary University, as well as the knowledge he gained from traditional medicinal practices. He gave practical demonstrations of how to treat common livestock ailments using household remedies such as pepper, turmeric, lime, betel leaves and radish. He demonstrated how to treat mastitis in cattle using aloe vera, turmeric and lime. To help the villagers easily memorise the ingredients, he creatively used them to represent each one.
Arulagam's secretary, Mr. S. Bharathidasan, told that this event was organised to replace vulture harmful drugs such as Diclofenac, Aceclofenac, Nimesulide, Ketoprofen, and Flunixin by using native medicine. He also pointed out that many species, including vultures, are dying as a result of poisoned bait being used on cattle, and emphasised the importance of monitoring and preventing such harmful practices. He requested that people promptly report any cattle deaths.
It was noted that proof of burial must be provided in order to receive compensation for the death of insured cattle. Livestock farmers requested that this requirement be reconsidered, and that appropriate action be taken. Dead cattle will be the potential food source for vultures.
Pamphlets were distributed to raise awareness of vultures and how to protect them. Dr. Punniyamurthy distributed a veterinary first-aid box containing traditional herbal medicines to the artificial insemination agents and the village community.
Sundari, biologist from Arulagam, explained the importance of vultures and their current status in our ecosystem.The event was organised by Revathi, Santhosh and John on behalf of Arulagam.