Context: Vultures, nature's most efficient waste managers, can play a crucial role in public health. The National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020-2025) is nearing its completion. This offers an opportunity to integrate biodiversity protection with pandemic preparedness.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Vultures; Role of Vultures; Vulture Conservation.
Ecological and Public Health Role of Vultures
- Vultures are obligate scavengers that play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem services such as nutrient recycling and removal of soil and water contaminants.
- Their scavenging function reduces opportunities for stray dogs and rodents to feed on carcasses, which otherwise act as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens. They prevent the spread of pathogens like Anthrax, Clostridium botulinum, and Rabies.
As the first animals to encounter carcasses, they can play a pivotal role in surveillance and safe carcass management.
Status of Vultures in India
- India is home to 9 species of Vultures. India once had over 40 million vultures, but their population has declined by over 95% since the 1990s, primarily due to the veterinary drug diclofenac.
- This decline represents not only an ecological loss but also a public health challenge linked to the risk of future pandemics.
- Vultures in India are part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), a major migratory corridor spanning 30+ countries, connecting ecosystems and disease risks across borders.
- Decline in vulture numbers increases the risk of spillover events, as poorly managed carcasses turn into hotspots for zoonotic pathogens.
Threats to Vultures:
- Consumption of carcasses of livestock treated with diclofenac leads to renal failure in vultures damaging their excretory system (direct inhibition of uric acid secretion in vultures), and causes their fatality. 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.
- Habitat loss and fragmentation: Urbanisation, expansion of Agriculture, deforestation leads to destruction of nesting sites and habitat of Vultures.
- Reduction in prey-base, changes in cattle disposal methods, and electrocution with power lines.
Challenges in Vulture Conservation:
- Conservation programmes remain fragmented and underfunded, with limited integration into One Health strategies.
- Infrastructure risks like electrocution from power lines and poisoning from toxic veterinary drugs remain unchecked.
Efforts for Vulture Conservation:
- National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020-25): The Action Plan for the conservation of vultures includes setting up 8 Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres and Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) in the country.
- In 2023, the government banned veterinary use of Aceclofenac and Ketoprofen which were found to be toxic to vultures. The government has already banned the veterinary use of Diclofenac in 2006 to protect the species from further harm.
India has the opportunity to frame a post-2025 strategy that integrates biodiversity conservation with pandemic preparedness. By embedding vulture protection in national and regional One Health strategies, India can showcase a global model where biodiversity conservation doubles as pandemic prevention.
Also Read: Vulture population in India