Decline in vulture population arrested

New Delhi, Feb 15 (UNI) The decline in the population of vultures has been arrested after the ban on veterinary drug diclofenac about a year ago.

Three vulture species, the slender-billed Gyps tenuirostris, Indian G indicus and white-rumped vultures G bengalensis died in large numbers in recent years from kidney failure after eating the flesh of cattle treated with diclofenac.

''Now there are some positive developments. Preliminary observations have revealed that the species are coming back,'' a senior official of the Ministry of Environment and Forests told UNI.

He said that though it would be premature to give the exact extent of recovery but there were indications the decline in their population had been arrested.

The three vulture species, categorised as critically endangered, have declined by up to 97 per cent in the past 15 years. Their disappearance has led to a great crisis as the birds are natural by eating up scavengers.

The white-rumped vulture was probably the most common large bird of prey in the world before the use of diclofenac on cattle led to their fall.

A research by the Bombay Natural History Society showed most of the affected birds were suffering from acute gout and gut inflammation. It was suspected that the birds might be dying due a disease caused probably by a virus.

However, later it was established that it was the drug diclofenac given to cattel as painkiller which was the main culprit.

The birds who fed on carcasses developed kidney failure leading to their death.

Following this discovery which was made about four years ago, the government last year banned the drug.

UNI