Vultures have significantly declined since 1996. Over a decade, their numbers decreased to near extinction values. Three of India’s vulture species of the genus – “Gyps” – the long-billed and the slender-billed had dwindled by a 97% while the white-rumped by a 99.9% from 1992 to 2007. This drop rate was regarded as the fastest decline of any bird species reported across the world, stated by the Bombay National History Society. The drop rates were originally discovered by villagers who claimed that the vultures were “nowhere to be seen”.
The first actual report of the vulture decline was submitted by Vibhu Prakesh, one of the main scientists at Bombay National History Society. He documented the first decrease in Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan where the number of vultures had halved from 1987 to 1996. Prakesh also found quite a few dead vultures which left him in shock as he didn’t know the real reason for this significant decline. By 2000, there were no vultures left in Bharatpur and by the end of the year International Union for Conservation of Nature remarked them as a critically endangered species.
After various research and experiments by scientists, it was discovered that the root of this problem was diclofenac’s presence in the carcass. Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain. It is a painkiller that was used by many people as it was cheap and acted fast, while also being the reason for the fall in the amount of vultures. Hence, it was banned in 2000. Since carcasses are one of main foods for vultures in India, vultures are expected to get rid of the rotting carcasses in the country. Most specifically, the Gyps, who can dig deep into a carcass to extract all the organs and decompose parts of it in only 20 minutes or less.
The near-extinction of vultures doesn’t just affect animals, but also affects human health. Vulture bodies are meant to not let bacteria grow and spread quickly due to its high body temperature and strong stomach acids. Due to a huge decline in the species, carcasses are left rotten which can lead to diseases such as anthrax, foot-&-mouth and brucellosis. These diseases are transmitted to humans and they either suffer severe through severe symptoms of it or if it gets too serious then their body stops functioning leading to death. There are other scavengers too, like rats and dogs, but they aren’t as strong as vultures and are usually a transmitter for diseases rather than a killer of them.
Scientists and researchers are working on ways to eliminate this crisis as soon as possible. One of their ways is to produce a safer and a more animal friendly drug as a replacement for diclofenac. More awareness campaigns are being hosted and efforts are being put to build breeding and rehabilitation centers for vultures, to live in a safe environment till this crisis continues, with the help of non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies and even local agencies who are simultaneously trying to implement and sustain conservation strategies for a better future for our ecosystem.
Written by Ratisha Khare
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