21 endangered vultures poisoned in India

12/05/2009 10:31:23 10 vultures treated for poisoning
May 2009. Despite drastic decline in populations of several vulture species in the 1990s that edged them towards extinction, vultures still continue to fall victim to human apathy today. Although efforts are being made by governments as well as non-government institutions to curb this downfall, reckless activities by people who live within the home range of vultures continue to take a toll on this dying group of scavengers, across India.

21 vultures have died after consuming poisoned carcasses in the northeast Indian state of Assam, since April 28. Assam Forest Department officials rescued a further 10 affected vultures (including four Himalayan Griffon, three slender-billed and three white-rumped) in two incidents and transferred them to the IFAW-WTI run Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park. Following treatment, all except one slender-billed vulture, are reportedly out of danger.

Symptons of poisoning
Dr Anjan Talukdar, IFAW-WTI veterinarian, CWRC, said, "The vultures were in a pretty bad state when they were brought here. They were showing acute symptoms of poisoning including drooping necks, extreme weakness and regurgitation. Fortunately however, nine of them responded well to our treatment. One slender-billed vulture that was brought in yesterday is still in a critical state. We are working on reviving this one too."

Utpal Bora, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sivasagar, said of the first incident, "The case was a retaliatory attack against a rabid dog which had killed a goat in a local family. The family members had poisoned the goat carcass with pesticides to kill the dog. The vultures then ate the contaminated carcasses of the goat and the dog, which had also died after consuming the poisoned goat meat."

Vulture population crash due to Diclofenac
Population of three Gyps vultures decreased by about 95% within as few as three years in the 1990s, across parts of their home range in south Asia (source: Birdlife International). Once commonly-used as a livestock analgesic/anti-inflammatory drug, ‘Diclofenac' was identified as one of the main causes. Use of ‘Diclofenac' is now banned in India. However, because of higher costs of the safer alternative ‘Meloxicam' and lack of awareness among users, Diclofenac continues to be used.

The Himalayan Griffon vultures (Gyps himalayensis) will be ringed (used for identification) and released soon after they are deemed healthy. The slender-billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) and white-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis), both categorised as critically endangered by IUCN and listed as Schedule I species in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, will be transferred to the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre.

Courtesy of the Wildlife Trust of India