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Flesh-Eaters Welcome Here
Posted on Sat May 10 2008
Asian white-backed vultures are primarily found in India and other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Until quite recently, they were widespread across southern Asia. Highly social birds, white-backed vultures have communal roosts and use the same sites each year. Long-lived and slow-breeding, the potential for population growth is low. They are found in both rural and urban areas, wherever carrion is available. A study published in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society documents a dramatic population crash. Since 1992, up to 99.9% of the white-backed vultures have disappeared. Long-billed and slender-billed vultures have also declined by about 97%. Historically, these were also the most common vulture species. However, researchers warn that all three species easily could become extinct within 10 years. The culprit is diclofenac, a veterinary drug used as an anti-inflammatory in cattle. It may be given to reduce joint pain and keep animals working longer. If livestock are treated up to a few days before death, their carcasses can be lethal to vultures, with high levels of diclofenac causing kidney failure. Only a small fraction of cattle are affected, but entire flocks of vultures may be poisoned by a single carcass. Although the Indian government imposed a 2006 ban on diclofenac manufacture for veterinary use, the human version continues to be available. Farmers still use it to treat domestic animals, due to the low cost. Meloxicam, an alternative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, is not toxic to vultures. With increased production, it may become cheap enough to replace all use of diclofenac. Conservation breeding is another important part of revitalizing vulture populations. So why the concern about usually reviled carrion-eaters? In fact, vultures are part of the decomposition cycle. By removing animal carcasses, the birds eliminate primary sources of disease and infection. Without them, other scavengers move in - but rats and stray dogs are much less savoury neighbours. CommentsLet us know what you think! |
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Modern medicines have lengthened human lifespans and treated ailments previously considered fatal. But pharmaceutical advances have negative effects too. While there are unsuspected side effects that lead to packages disappearing from the shelves, sometimes the ramifications are more oblique.
Indeed, the Hindu vulture god Jatayu and all his children have been revered and worshiped for millenia. It doesn't do to think, as you pointed out, what would happen to India without these extremely valuable creatures.
Vultures are probably the greenest cleaning machine we have. I've never understood people's dislike of them when they do so much good. Once again, our selfish actions are inflicted further down the line on other wildlife through no fault of their own.