04.09.2025

Vulture Conservation

Context

Vultures, once abundant in India, are rapidly declining. As key scavengers, they prevent disease spread by consuming carcasses, but face threats from veterinary drugs, habitat loss, and food scarcity despite conservation efforts.

Ecological Importance of Vultures

• Called “giddh” in Hindi, vultures act as nature’s clean-up crew by quickly removing dead animal remains.
• This service minimizes the risk of diseases such as anthrax, rabies, and plague, which can spread when carcasses decay openly.
• A decline in vulture numbers slows carcass decomposition, increases disease outbreaks, and heightens conflicts between humans and other scavengers like stray dogs.

Population Decline in India

• India is home to nine species of vultures.
• Populations have plummeted sharply: from about 40 million in the 1990s to a reduction of around 99% by the early 2000s.
• By 2015, the population had fallen below 20,000, with states like Rajasthan reporting massive losses.
• Current figures suggest the decline is still continuing.

Causes of Decline

1. Veterinary Medicines
   • Drugs such as diclofenac, aceclofenac, nimesulide, and ketoprofen, used for livestock treatment, remain the biggest threat.
   • Vultures feeding on treated carcasses ingest these residues. Diclofenac in particular causes kidney failure and death within hours.
2. Other Threats
   • Loss of nesting sites due to deforestation and habitat change.
   • Electrocution and collisions with high-tension power lines.
   • Decline in availability of safe food sources.

Awareness Initiatives

• International Vulture Awareness Day – observed on the first Saturday of September every year to stress the importance of vulture conservation.

Conservation Efforts in India

• Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres: Set up in Haryana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam.
• Ban on Diclofenac (2006): Alternative drugs like meloxicam promoted as safe options.
• Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs): Established in states like Assam, MP, and UP, focusing on reducing drug use and creating safe habitats.
• Vulture Conservation Portal (Assam): Platform developed by Vulture Foundation India for collaboration among researchers and conservationists.
• National Action Plan (till 2025): Emphasizes creation of safe zones, captive breeding, and awareness campaigns.

Conclusion

Strengthening conservation through safe drug alternatives, habitat protection, awareness, and breeding programmes is essential to revive vulture populations, ensuring ecological balance, public health security, and the preservation of India’s natural scavengers.