Diclofenac not the sole cause of vulture deaths, say experts

NAGPUR: Use of diclofenac in animals has been reported to have led to a sharp decline in the vulture population in the Indian subcontinent and their numbers declined by 95% in the last decade. But experts deny that the painkiller drug is not the sole reason for extinction of vultures.

At a forum organized to mark International Vulture Awareness Day 2013, head, Nagpur Veterinary College medicine department, Dr N P Dakshinkar, said, "There cannot be one reason for extinction of vultures. Diclofenac may be one of the reasons."

Bird expert and former honorary wildlife warden Gopal Thosar observed that starvation is the main cause of vulture deaths.

Thosar said earlier when a cattle died, farmers used to throw the carcass on the village outskirts where vultures used to feast on it. But nowadays as cattle are being taken away by butchers, vultures have been deprived of food. In Vidarbha, there is no evidence to prove that vultures died of diclofenac.

Raptor scientist and National Association for Welfare of Animals and Research secretary Dr Ajay Poharkar, who is working for vulture conservation in Gadchiroli, has scientifically established that vultures died of avian malaria in the tribal district. His research paper on 'Vulture deaths and theory of malarial deaths' have been internationally recognized.

Dr Poharkar had also pioneered the idea of 'vulture restaurant' in Gadchiroli, when other states were just contemplating about it.

Maharashtra chief wildlife warden SWH Naqvi called for mass awareness among rural folks. "Vultures have also died of poisoning after feasting on cattle that had died of excessive use of pesticides by farmers," said Naqvi.

Naqvi also added that a vulture conservation project is planned to be taken up in Thane with the help of Bombay Natural History Society.

APCCF & nodal officer Suresh Gairola and Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra managing director A K Nigam laid stress on protecting nests of vultures. DFO Ajay Pillariseth presented a film show on vultures.

An another programme, Dr Mangesh Nakade of International Veterinary Student Association and Wildlife Conservation and Agro-Rural Development India distributed phamplets to create awareness on vultures and their role in ecology.

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