Indian vultures may soon extinct if their population continues to decline at the current rate. According to the Bombay Natural History Society, 99 per cent population of the bird has declined at the rate of around 50 per cent every year despite the Indian Government taking necessary steps.
In a recent publication, it was observed that at present there are only 11,000 vultures remaining in India. If it continues to decline at this rate, then only around 6,000 vultures will be left and finally they may become extinct. One of the main source for this decline is a veterinary drug called Diclofenac, which is given to treat sick cattle, proved to be highly toxic. As vulture scavenges on carcasses of dead cattle, the traces of the drug is consumed by the vulture. Even in minute quantity it is fatal to the vulture. India banned the manufacture of veterinary diclofenac in 2006.
The Indian government should support vulture breeding programmes through which the extinction can be prevented. Some of the groups like the British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Bombay Natural History Society are seeking funds for six captive breeding centers in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Also, a vulture care centre is opened in Haryana in February 2003 needs strong support. It can house up to 35 vultures and plans to start breeding vultures soon.
Unless, the government act now it will become impossible to find enough vultures to establish stocks for captive breeding. Implementation of such breeding programmes can greatly reduce the decline percentage of the vulture and thus save the threatened birds to the nation.
Regards,
Meena
In a recent publication, it was observed that at present there are only 11,000 vultures remaining in India. If it continues to decline at this rate, then only around 6,000 vultures will be left and finally they may become extinct. One of the main source for this decline is a veterinary drug called Diclofenac, which is given to treat sick cattle, proved to be highly toxic. As vulture scavenges on carcasses of dead cattle, the traces of the drug is consumed by the vulture. Even in minute quantity it is fatal to the vulture. India banned the manufacture of veterinary diclofenac in 2006.
The Indian government should support vulture breeding programmes through which the extinction can be prevented. Some of the groups like the British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Bombay Natural History Society are seeking funds for six captive breeding centers in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Also, a vulture care centre is opened in Haryana in February 2003 needs strong support. It can house up to 35 vultures and plans to start breeding vultures soon.
Unless, the government act now it will become impossible to find enough vultures to establish stocks for captive breeding. Implementation of such breeding programmes can greatly reduce the decline percentage of the vulture and thus save the threatened birds to the nation.
Regards,
Meena
the revolutionary introduction of some new molecules of antipyretic drug like Ketopropfen Telofenic acid or flinixin are more safer drug of choice for treating animals
ReplyDeleteDr R.L. Dutta