Identifying suitable reintroduction sites for the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in India's Western Ghats using niche models and habitat requirements

Abstract Once one of the most abundant raptors in the world, the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) has faced a drastic population decline across its global range for the past three decades. In India, the main cause of this decline has been the accidental ingestion of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac through livestock carcasses. However, some breeding populations still survive in the forested landscapes of India's Western Ghats. But these populations have also been facing several anthropogenic threats recently, and now show a declining population trend. The two possible conservation strategies for G. bengalensis are to ban diclofenac and develop further captive breeding and reintroduction programs. In this context, we modelled potential reintroduction sites for the species in the Western Ghats by considering its key habitat features and ecological niche models to maximise the likelihood of its long-term regional persistence. Models were developed for current and future climate change scenarios using nesting and foraging occurrence records. Our models predict climatically stable habitats under three climate change scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways; RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5) for three future time periods (2030s, 2050s, and 2080s). The primary determinants of nest-site selection by G. bengalensis evaluated using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) revealed a preference for larger trees closer to water sources. Based on our findings, we suggest possible reintroduction sites in the southern Western Ghats that are climatically stable in the future time periods. Our approach can encourage policymakers to prioritize sites for future species management in the wild. The key results and its implications on conservation of G. bengalensis populations within the Western Ghats hotspot are further discussed in detail.