VULTURES (ref -https://www.PMFIAS.COM)
- Recently, 150 vultures were seen in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Bihar, which has prompted a vulture conservation plan in the protected region of VTR.
- Nine species of vulture can be found living in India. But today, most are in danger of extinction due to a veterinary drug called diclofenac (vultures do not have a particular enzyme to break down diclofenac).
- Diclofenac is a common anti-inflammatory drug administered to livestock and is used to treat the symptoms of inflammation, fevers and/or pain associated with disease or wounds.
- Diclofenac leads to renal failure in vultures damaging their excretory system (direct inhibition of uric acid secretion in vultures).
- Conservation Status of India Vultures
- Critically Endangered
- White-Rumped Vulture
- White-Backed Vulture
- Ruppell’s Vulture
- Indian Vulture
- Slender-Billed Vulture
- Endangered
- Cape Vulture
- Near Threatened
- Himalayan Vulture
- Least Concern
- Griffon Vulture