Diclofenac was not the last threat for India’s vultures
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Diclofenac was not the last threat for India’s vultures
Subject: Environment
Section: Biodiversity
Context: On March 14, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), India’s oldest biodiversity conservation group, wrote a letter urging Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to ban the use of three veterinary drugs known to kill vultures in the country.
Concept:
- The letter warns that the rampant use of the three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) threatens to undo the Centre’s two decades of work to arrest the dwindling vulture population in the wild.
- Surprisingly, the three drugs—aeclofenac, ketoprofen and nimesulide—were introduced as alternatives to diclofenac, the NSAID that India banned in 2006 for animal use because it caused widespread vulture deaths.
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.
- In simple words, Diclofenac is a pain reliever. People use it to treat mild to moderate pain and the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Diclofenac leads to renal failure in vultures damaging their excretory system (direct inhibition of uric acid secretion in vultures).
- Gyps species were the most affected by diclofenac.
Challenges in eradication
- Diclofenac for veterinary use was banned in 2005 but it was continued to be made for humans.
- They are effective against seasonal flu. We also use them as painkillers. There are 20-30 cows that undergo treatment at a point of time
- Need not have a prescription to get your hands on diclofenac or any other NSAIDS
- Many district in the country, has limited trained veterinarians and a high number of quack doctors who prescribe drug overdoses
Vultures In India
https://optimizeias.com/vultures-in-india/
Action Plan for Vulture Conservation for 2020-2025
https://optimizeias.com/action-plan-for-vulture-conservation-for-2020-2025/