Why Endangered?

♤ The most important reason for their decline is attributed to a drug named Diclofenac used for livestock. Diclofenac is a type of NSAID (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) which causes kidney failure in vultures when they eat dead cattle.

♤ The demand of food, land and other resources by human beings has also caused destruction of vulture habitats.

♤ Vultures aren’t getting enough food as poor farmers sell their old and sick cattle to slaughterhouses.

♤ In south India certain communities used to catch vultures and eat them leasing to their extinction in the region.

♤ Electrocution, motor interferences and superstitious beliefs have also lead to death of many vultures.

Safe food by collecting dead animals from local people is being supplied to vultures at strategic locations in our country. For example, presently there are three ‘Vulture Restaurants' in Gadchiroli forest division at Marakbodi, Madetukum and Nimgaon.

This is an in-situ conservation method and can play a very important role in the conservation of vultures.

NSAID: These are a class of drugs that provides pain-killing and fever-reducing effects, and, in higher doses, anti- inflammatory effects. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are the most common example of NSAID.

(A question in prelims was asked on Vultures in 2011)