For the last 25 years, wildlife conservator Premsagar Mestri has been chasing vultures in the Raigad district. The founder of Society of Eco-Endangered Species Conservation and Protection (Seescap), he has been the force behind the vulture count going up in the region from 22 to 350 in the short span of two decades. His efforts have ranged from tracking the vulture colonies, understanding their flying and migratory patterns, to restoring their habitat—by planting new trees and following up with the forest department to protect green zones—and also building a network of villagers who ensure that the bird of prey has a steady supply of food. He was also instrumental in building a vulture heartland in Chirgaon village, Mhasla taluka.

Mestri’s slew of interventions, however, are slowly coming undone, apparently due to climate change. According to data released by Seescap, the vulture count in Raigad has fallen sharply from 347 in March 2021 to 249 in March 2022.