The inter-Ministerial consultation on vulture conservation, convened by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, has sent out a clear message to the State agriculture departments: it is they who hold the key to the fortunes of three critically endangered species in India. After years of research, scientists concluded that the cause for extermination of about 95 per cent of the estimated populations of oriental white-backed, slender-billed, and long-billed vultures in the subcontinent is the painkiller diclofenac. Feeding on carcasses of cattle that had been administered the drug proved fatal to the birds. The Ministry responded positively to that finding by coming up with a multi-pronged strategy. It essentially consists of banning veterinary formulations of diclofenac, popularising the drug meloxicam to eliminate the threat to vultures from contaminated carcasses, and opening breeding centres. The results have been encouraging. There is a declining trend in the use of the toxic drug. The breeding centres at Pinjore in Haryana, Rajabhat Khawa in West Bengal, and the Rani range in Assam now host a good number of birds. Yet, given the scale of the ecological disaster that has struck vultures, much more needs to be done.
The supply of meloxicam, which leaves cattle carcasses safe for vultures, is unable to meet the demand. Such a situation exists in spite of an increase in the number of companies manufacturing the drug, since it became the molecule of choice for veterinary application five years ago. Farmers facing a shortage would naturally opt for alternatives such as diclofenac meant for human use. There is also a case for reviewing the pricing of meloxicam, an issue the Environment Ministry has been pursuing with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. A third drug tried for toxicity to vultures, ketoprofen, has failed to pass the test. What makes these issues critically important is the anecdotal evidence of a large number of vultures dying in agricultural areas, depleting the overall numbers. In a recent instance, 21 of these birds were found dead in Assam in a paddy field, reportedly after feeding on a carcass sprinkled with pesticide. The conservation programme should therefore make a systematic, annual count of all nine vulture species found in India, particularly the three species threatened with extinction, and assess all threats. Such a census is part of the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation prepared by the Environment Ministry in 2006; it is important to continue it even after self-sustaining populations have established themselves in the range States. The health of vultures in nature is indicative of the state of the ecosystem.
Keywords: vulture conservation
The conservations discussed above are too technical in nature. Moreover these alone will not lead to breeding of the vultures. As a layman, I would suggest that making large number of ponds/lakes and breeding fish in them will lead to an increased population of vultures/eagles. I have seen several vultures flying above a lake in our town having lot of fish. These birds relish fresh fish than dead carcasses. If the lake population increases, it will also solve the problem of under ground water depletion.
At my place (Hatni in Madhubani district of Bihar),it used to have thousands of vultures roving over deep in sky for most of the summer sessions. The marked absence of vultures have been noted in last ten-fifteen years only. Any one of this area can narrate you the sad story of lost treasure of the nature. Our main pass time used to watch a fight between a group group of vultures and stray dogs over a piece of bounty snatched from the nearby carcass. Other bird, the dark crow, also used to be there. They both have been early casualties of the manmade disaster, we are only going to be the last in this chain once started by ourself to satiate our never ending desires.
Gyps. Vultures should be saved at any rate.I have also taken part in monitoring vultures in Kutch of Gujarat and also taken part in census organized by Geer Foundation,Gandhinagar.
No doubt , this issue keeps high importance in food chain . Hindu has been including this issue in its editorial section for last few years at particular intervals . When we have all the reasons clear in our hand , now this is the time that Govt. invest more into the research and implementation of the suggested solutions of the problem. First, regulation the price of meloxicam and focus on improving its production to meet demands is requisite. Secondly, side by side research to develop other alternative drugs should go on. Thirdly, as the article stated , proper yearly assessment of exact number of vultures in India should be made to keep track of alleviating or worsening situation .
nice coverage. I have been working for vulture conservation in Gujarat since last 3 years. i have been working on a veterinary painkiller monitoring project by ministry of environment and forest, govt. of India since last 10months. I have seen during my survey that even the govt. veterinary doctors are still using human 30ml diclofenac vials on a large scale.
I really agreed with what you have shared. I'm doing my research paper on "Role of Scavenegrs in Ecosystem: Vultures". I found GEER Foundation, Gandhinagar working on various alternatives to save vultures. one thing I found interesting about the role of 'panjarapols' in Gujarat which is an old concept to bring people close to birds and animals. this concept if taken seriously can also help in saving vultures.
Even sparrows need attention, as their numbers have been dramatically reduced over the past decade. Reasons may be electro magnetic radiation being used by us like mobile phone, wireless communication devices.
I think vultures are more important than tigers in the food chain and hence they need more attention. Obviously meloxicam should be priced less than diclofenac.
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