Extinction of vultures
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The populations of three vulture species in India have declined drastically over the past decade due to the drug diclofenac, which is toxic to vultures. Diclofenac was commonly used by farmers and veterinarians to treat cattle, but was banned in 2005. However, it continues to be sold illegally and is fatal to vultures that eat the remains of treated cattle. Several conservation efforts are underway, including the establishment of breeding centers and vulture safe zones free of diclofenac. The extinction of vultures poses problems as they used to control disease by consuming carcasses.
Extinction of vultures
- 1. EXTINCTION OF VULTURES Submitted to – Dr. Submitted by – Surjeet Adm. no.- 2010V60B
- 2. INTRODUCTION India has nine species of vultures in the wild. The population of three species i.e. White-backed Vulture, Slender billed Vulture and Long billed Vulture in the wild has declined drastically over the past decade.
- 3. The decline of Gyps genus in India has been put at 97% by 2005.
- 4. REASON The cause of their demise is a drug called diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory used by farmers and veterinarians to ease pain in cattle. The drug was banned five years ago, but pharmacies continue to sell it under the counter.
- 5. IMPORTANCE When an animal dies, it becomes a breeding ground for all sorts of pathogens. The vultures used to feed off the animals before bacterial and fungus could develop, preventing the spread of rabies, anthrax and many other diseases.
- 6. feral dog population is multiplying because they have so much more food and that is a major problem for India, which has the highest rate of human rabies in the world. Life is much harder for local hide and bone- collectors, who rely on cleaned carcasses in order to earn a living. And many cattle owners now have to pay to have livestock carcasses buried or burnt.
- 7. SUBSITUTE A non-toxic substitute to diclofenac is meloxicam, although it has less of an immediate effect. But preventing misuse of human diclofenac remains the main challenge in halting the decline of threatened vultures.
- 8. The endangered birds eat the remains of the drugged animals and suffer kidney failure and visceral gout, which is usually fatal. the frequency of mortality being dose- dependent.
- 9. ACTION TAKEN International workshop at Kathmandu, Nepal in February 2004 Workshop at Parwanoo, Haryana in February 2004 National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) on 17th March 2005
- 10. CONSERVATION Vulture Breeding and Conservation Centre had already been established at Pinjore, Haryana in 2001 and another one has been established in 2005 at Buxa, West Bengal.
- 11. The Central Zoo Authority of India has also committed an amount of Rs1 crore for supporting 4 such centres in the zoos at Junagadh, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Bhubhaneshwar in 2006-07.
- 12. ROLE OF IUCN IUCN is working with the Governments of South Asia and a consortium of organizations known as ‘SAVE’ (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction), which is also supported by SOS – Save Our Species, to establish 100 kilometer radius ‘Vulture Safe Zones’ clear of diclofenac and other potentially dangerous veterinary painkillers.
- 13. CONCLUSION Vulture's ability to digest infected, rotting meat without impending any negative effects to its own health. They are nature's own cleaning devices. Understand their behaviour and breeding productivity. To Measure the vulture population and conduct a nationwide monitoring to produce a recovery plan by establishing a captive care facility for sick & potentially healthy vultures.
- 14. THANKS