Awebinar on “Saving the Asian Vulture” was organized as a part of Biodiversityweek being observed by Science City to mark the celebration of InternationalBiodiversity Day.
Morethan 300 college and senior secondary school students, teachers, foresters,researchers, bird watchers and environmentalists participated from all overNorthern India.
Dr.Munir Virani, Executive Vice President at The Peregrine Fund -World Center forBirds of Prey (from USA), who was the key speaker at the occasion, said thatseven species of vultures make up the New World vultures that are foundthroughout the Americas. “The Old World vultures found in Africa, Asia andEurope are made up 16 different species and closely related to eagles, kitesand hawks and of which nine species of vultures are found in India”, Dr Viranisaid.
Hesaid that most of these species are endangered and are at the verge ofextinction due to rapid and major population collapse in recent decades. In1980s, there were up to 80 million white-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) inIndia, however, today the population has declined to mere thousands only.
“Populationof three Gyps vultures in South Asia decreased by about 95% in the 1990s and further,South Asia’s vulture population fell sharply mainly due to an anti-inflammatorydrug called diclofenac once routinely administered on cattle”, he added.
Hefurther said that vultures that scavenged on cattle carcasses that containedtraces of the drug often died from toxicity and kidney failure. He revealedvarious conservation strategies being adopted to restore vulture population inSouth Asia.
DrNeelima Jerath, Director General- Science City, giving introductory remarks atthe occasion said that Vultures are also known as nature's cleanup crew whichdo the dirty work of cleaning and helping to keep ecosystems healthy as theyact as natural carcass recyclers. In the past two decades, vulture populationhas declined by a whopping 99%.
“Thereare currently, about 100,000 vultures left in India representing fastestdecline of any species in the world. They are an important part of the foodchain and studies have shown a direct relationship between the decline ofvultures and spread of diseases like rabies in the country originating fromrise in wild dog population”, she added.
Sheemphasized on conservation breeding programs to restore vulture population needto be strengthened. She informed that sporadic vulture conservation programshad been initiated in the country, including the one in nearby Pinjore, whichare yielding good results. Certain individuals have also come forward toparticipate in vulture protection initiatives.
Dr.Rajesh Grover, Director- Science City, present at the occasion said that Vulturesprovide critically important ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits.The declining vulture population in the country could lead to public healthcatastrophe. Further, vulture extinction in the country is an ongoing risk andconservation programs will be necessary to safeguard India’s vulture populationdespite challenges of slow breeding time, he added.