When Vultures Die, We Die

Sub: Env

Sec: Species in news

Context:

From 2000-2005,India saw approximately 500,000 deaths and an annual economic loss of Rs 58,110 crore ($69.4 billion) due to the loss of vultures.
The study “The Social Costs of Keystone Species Collapse” highlights the devastating effects of the functional extinction of vultures in India.

The Role of Vultures as a Keystone Species:

Vultures are critical to the Indian ecosystem, serving as scavengers that prevent the spread of diseases by consuming carcasses.
India once had 40 million vultures, but the introduction of diclofenac, a veterinary drug, led to their drastic decline, especially affecting four species now listed as “Critically Endangered.”
- Nine of the world’s 23 species of vultures exist in India; five of them belong to the genus Gyps and the rest are monotypic (that is, a genus that contains only one species).

Consequences of Vulture Decline:

The absence of vultures led to a significant increase in carcasses, resulting in the proliferation of dogs and rats, leading to more rabies cases and other diseases.
India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths, a rise linked to the vulture population’s collapse.
The study found an annual increase of 104,386 deaths due to the decline of vultures in areas suitable for their habitats.
The estimated economic damage due to increased mortality is $69.4 billion annually.

Challenges in Vulture Conservation:

Despite a ban on diclofenac in 2006, enforcement is weak, and toxic Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like nimesulide and flunixin are still in use.
Vulture breeding programs exist but are challenged by the continued presence of toxic drugs and the introduction of new ones.

Steps Toward Vulture Conservation:

SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction): The consortium of like-minded, regional and international organizations, created to oversee and co-ordinate conservation, campaigning, and fundraising activities to help the plight of South Asia’s vultures.
The Action Plan for Vulture Conservation in India (2020-2025) aims to eliminate diclofenac and monitor vulture sites, but the success depends on strict enforcement.
Experts emphasize the need for pre-licensing drug testing to prevent future collapses of keystone species like vultures.