Ministries Discussing Vulture Conservation...... Finally!!!

All of us related to the environment field, especially biodiversity enthusiasts have happy news here.... In March, 2011, an inter-ministerial discussion was held to discuss strategies to save Vultures in India. In the recent past, the vulture population in India has drastically reduced. The condition is attributed to the drugs found in the carrion they eat. Diclofenac (a drug) is used to cure cattle of colic. This drug is the main cause of Vulture Deaths as it causes a deadly kidney ailment in vultures known as visceral gout. According to sources, since the drug was introduced in the mid 1990s, the population of Vultures has reduced by 95%!!! (Source: zeenews.india.com)

When scientists and conservationists found this trend, then Diclofenac was banned three years ago. Safe substitutes were being found to treat cattle colic which would not hard the Vultures. One of the drugs which were then administered to cattle was Ketroprofen. But sadly, this substitute also was found to be lethal in higher doses. The problem is also cultural. Even though Indians consider cows to be sacred, yet the carcass of dead cows lay rotting in garbage dumps and deserted streets. When scavenged by Vultures, these drugs find their way to vulture kidneys causing death. Also, since vultures are slow breeding birds, the birth rate cannot bring such alarming death rate in equilibrium. Vultures are not only Beautiful birds associated with mythical presence throughout the world, but they are also major players in the food chains. Especially for the Parsi Community, they hold special importance as Parsis do not bury or cremate their dead and vultures hold a major role in Parsi Funerals.

Conservationists all over the world have been trying to devise ways to save the Vulture population in India. It’s just the Government that opens its eyes late…. Anyhow, it is good that they are coming to terms with the critical condition the Vultures are in. And to address that, an Inter-Ministerial meeting was held on the 21st of March 2011. This meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Environment & Forests, Health, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Commerce, Agriculture, State Forest Departments, and scientists from Bombay Natural History Society, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. Since the meeting was held between an inter-disciplinary group, a good view of various stakeholders could be established. Numerous suggestions were made which included formation of a Vulture Sanctuary between Bangalore and Mysore in Ramnagaram District, bettering captive breeding efforts and strengthening mechanisms to ensure better off-take of the alternate safe drug meloxicam for veterinary use. All members present agreed to the concept of having 'vulture safe zones' where a landscape approach will be implemented to free certain vulture important areas from use of the killer drug diclofenac. Also ways and means to check leakage of human diclofenac for treatment of livestock, figured prominently in the discussion. (Source: moef.nic.in)

It yet remains to be seen how much of the discussion transcends to reality and how much work is done on ground to achieve the feat. I would like to request all associated to join hands with the government to protect these beautiful birds. The least we can do is spread awareness amongst us all against the use of Diclofenac. Let us hope that our Children would be able to see the graceful birds in the sky and not in Zoological museums.