Social Costs of Vulture Decline

Why in news?

Recent study reveals that there is a strong link between Vulture decline in India and its impact on human health crisis.

Distribution – It is now extinct in South East Asia with current populations existing mostly in central and peninsular India, south of the Gangetic plains.
It is also found in southwest Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Types – There are nine species of vultures, five belong to the genus Gyps and the rest four are monotypic.
- Oriental White-backed Vulture - G.bengalensis
- The Long-billed Vulture - G.indicus
- Slender-billed Vulture - G.tenuirostris
- The Himalayan Vulture – G.himalayensis
- The Eurasian Griffon – G.fulvus
- Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus
- Red-headed Vulture - Sarcogyps calvus
- Cinereous Vulture - Aegypius monachus
- Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) - Gypaetus barbatus
Role in Ecosystem – They feed on carrion, the remains of dead animals, and act as the ‘rubbish collectors’ of the natural world.
It help eliminating potentially harmful bacteria from the environment, potentially limiting the spread of diseases such as anthrax and rabies.
Role in culture – The Dakhma or ‘Towers of Silence’ is a unique and environmentally conscientious method of laying the dead to rest practised by the Parsi community.
The vultures performs the pivotal role of stripping away the flesh from the bones through their scavenging process.

Decline – In the mid-1990s, India’s vulture population reached near extinction
- White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, and Red-headed Vulture declined by 98%, 95%, and 91% respectively.
India’s remaining vulture populations are largely confined to protected areas and feed primarily on wildlife.
Veterinary drugs – It is primarily due to the widespread use of diclofenac in livestocks.
Vultures consuming the carcasses of treated livestock suffered fatal kidney failure.

Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat sick cattle.

Alternatives to diclofenac such as aceclofenac, ketoprofen, and nimesulide also affected vultures.
Usage of NSAIDs - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most prescribed medications for treating conditions such as arthritis.
Diclofenac and aceclofenac, continue to be produced for human use.
Loss of Habitat – It is due to urbanization, quarrying and mining.
Dwindling availability of food - Carcasses increasingly being buried and burned and also due to competition from feral dogs continue to pose risks.
Poisoning - Deliberate poisoning of carcasses, intended to kill dogs and other carnivores, also kills vultures.

Dramatic decline over vulture population over the past two decades has had unforeseen consequences for both wildlife and human health.
Sanitation crisis - Rotting carcasses left unattended, potentially contaminates and pollutes soil, air and water sources.
It allows for increased feeding and breeding of stray dogs.
Proliferation of harmful microbes – The absence of vultures allowed bacteria and pathogens to proliferate.
Disease in humans – Growth of harmful microbes led to a surge in human diseases and deaths.
- Diseases such as rabies got exacerbated by the rise in stray dog populations.
Treatment increases the health expenditure of individuals and the government.
Deaths in humans - 4% increase in death rates in areas where vultures once thrived and now absent.
- It caused approximately 100,000 additional human deaths annually between 2000 and 2005.
Economic Loss - The economic impact of these additional deaths is estimated at over $69 billion per year in mortality damages.

Impact on tanning industry - India’s tanning industry once relied on quick removal of carrion by vultures.
In their absence, shifting to burying or burning cattle reduced the supply of cattle skin for leather manufacturing.
Cultural Impact – It affects the tradition of Dhakma of the Parsi whereby the burial rituals require vultures to consume the body.

Conservation measures by India

Asia's first vulture re-introduction program in 2016 by Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore.
Vulture Action Plan 2020-25 by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change.
SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction) program by Consortium of regional and international organizations.
Diclofenac is banned in veterinary medicine since 2008 while Aceclofenac and ketoprofen were banned for animal us in 2023.

Creating awareness among people about the importance of vulture.
Adopting One Health approach for holistic coverage of human, animal and environmental health.
Preventing misuse of veterinary & NSAIDs by ensuring their sale only on prescription.
Scientific manner of disposal of livestock carcasses animals that died during treatment.
Finding nontoxic alternatives for animal steroids.
In- Situ conservation of vulture for the captive breeding.
Continued action is necessary to ensure the survival and recovery of these vital scavengers.