Vultures were once so ubiquitous in India as to be taken for granted. Vultures are cross-culturally uncharismatic with its bald head and oversized body. In India their wings can reach upto 8 feet, casting a big shadow from above the sky as they circle for the carrions below. Of the 23 vulture species of the world, 16 are considered near threatened, vulnerable to extinction, endangered or critically endangered. Africa and India are experiencing a vulture crisis. There are 9 species of vultures found in India, out of them 4 species are critically endangered . It is even estimated that the population of oriental white-backed backed vultures reached 80 millions individuals at one time. Today, critically endangered- the vulture is fighting its last battle for survival.
Vultures are the greatest, most efficient scavengers on the planet. They spared over cities in search of road kills and cleared the fields of dead animals. A colony of vultures can reduce a large animal into mere bones in less than an hour. In 1980s India had highest number of vultures in the world, reason being the high population of livestock. India being primarily non beef eating country, where religions and culture restrict handling pf dead animals – dead cattles are dumped in the carcass ground after removing the skin. Only 5% of the estimated 500 million cows are eaten by humans. The carcass dumping grounds are the major foraging sites for vultures. They keep in check the diseases and contamination by clearing the remains.
The vulture population grow very slowly because they produce only one offspring each year. In around two decades around 97-99% of the population have disappeared. Once there was millions of vultures, now left with only a few thousands. The serious ecological imbalance can be seen all around. The rotten, putrified carrions are left for weeks and are reminder to the mankind of the loss of a critical link in the food chain. Decline of Vultures resulted in increase in the population of feral dogs, rats and crows. A study on the wider implication of the vulture die-off indicated that this sudden increase in dogs is thought to have at least partially caused the rabies outbreak (38.5 million additional dog bites) estimated to have killed 47, 300 people from 1992 to 2006 in India.
It took over a decade to find out the real culprit behind this unknown deaths. The biologist from peregrine fund uncovered the answer to the puzzle in 2003. It was an ordinary drug called Diclofenac. If a cattle treated with diclofenac dies, the in drug remains in the system and often consumed by vultures. After consuming it, vultures die of renal failure.
In 2004 peregrine fund presented the findings to all the south asian governments, recommend banning of its use and advised breeding vulture in captivity. In 2006 Indian govt banned diclofenac for veterinary use. In 2015, govt. banned multiple dose diclofenac as human medicine, making it difficult to use for livestocks. There is a safer alternative meloxicam, which has already been tested and available for use. But most veterinary stores still keeps diclofenac under counter. One of the hurdle in promoting meloxicam is high price as compared to diclofenac.
Some conservation breeding program has also been started by the government in Pinjore( Haryana), Buxa ( West Bengal) and Rani ( Assam) . But the vultures are long lived and slow in breeding, so programs expected to take decades. It is essential to eradicate the use of diclofenac, otherwise nothing can save our most efficient scavengers. The drug control general of India, and the animal husbandry department should take steps in urgency. While they debate and ponder over the issue, vulture population may go beyond recovery. If we are really serious to save this marvellous bird,this is the time to act. India must find a way to restore vultures or risk untold human health consequences.
INDIAN VULTURES AND THEIR STATUS :
Oriental white backed vulture – CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Indian vulture – CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Slender billed vulture – CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Red headed vulture – CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Egyptian vulture – ENDANGERED
Himalayan Griffon vulture – NEAR THREATENED
Bearded vulture – NEAR THREATENED
Cinereous vulture – NEAR THREATENED
Eurasian Griffon vulture – LEAST CONCERNED
Follow the official site of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
https://www.iucnredlist.org
