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Why Vultures Matter — Nature’s Sanitation Workers
The most underappreciated ecosystem service bird in India
White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) — Critically Endangered · Lost 99.9% of population since 1990s · © Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
💡 Think of Vultures as India’s Free Ambulances and Garbage Trucks — Combined
India has over 307 million cattle. When cattle die, carcasses must be disposed of. Before the 1990s, 40–50 million vultures could clean a cow carcass in under 40 minutes — a service that would cost billions of rupees if done mechanically. Their stomach acid is so strong it destroys anthrax, rabies, and tuberculosis bacteria — bacteria that other scavengers cannot handle. When vultures disappeared, carcasses piled up at animal landfills. Feral dogs and rats moved in. Rabies spread. Disease increased. An estimated 100,000 additional human deaths occurred annually between 2000 and 2005 because of vulture loss. This is why vultures are called Nature’s Cleanup Crew.
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Vulture species in India
4
Critically Endangered species
99.9%
White-rumped vulture decline (1992–2007)
97%
Long-billed vulture decline
0.8%
Contaminated carcasses enough to crash populations
~100,000
Extra human deaths/year from vulture loss (2000–2005)
2006
Veterinary Diclofenac banned in India
2023
Ketoprofen & Aceclofenac also banned
Ecosystem Services of Vultures
- Rapid carcass disposal: A group of vultures can strip a large carcass to the bone in under 40 minutes — preventing disease spread from rotting flesh
- Disease control: Vulture stomach acid destroys anthrax, botulinum toxin, cholera, and rabies bacteria — pathogens that survive in other scavengers and spread disease
- Dog and rat control: Healthy vulture populations competitively suppress feral dog and rat populations, which spread rabies and leptospirosis
- Cultural significance: Parsi community’s sky burial (Dakhma/Tower of Silence) relies entirely on vultures to consume the deceased — a centuries-old tradition. Vulture decline has devastated this practice.
- Economic value: A 2008 study estimated that vultures provide carcass disposal services worth billions of dollars annually to India
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India’s 9 Vulture Species — IUCN Status & Key Features
Know which species is CR, EN, NT, or LC — frequently asked in UPSC
🔴 Critically Endangered (CR) — 4 species most devastated by Diclofenac
🔴 CR
White-rumped Vulture
Gyps bengalensis
Declined 99.9% (1992–2007). Was world’s most numerous vulture. CR since 2000. <6,000 left globally. Primary Diclofenac victim.
🔴 CR
Indian / Long-billed Vulture
Gyps indicus
97% decline. CR since 2002. 5,000–15,000 in wild. Native to Indian subcontinent. Mainly Central & Peninsular India.
🦅
🔴 CR
Slender-billed Vulture
Gyps tenuirostris
99.9% decline. Narrower bill than Long-billed. Found NE India, Terai. CR since 2000. Very small numbers survive.
🔴 CR
Red-headed Vulture
Sarcogyps calvus
91% decline. Striking red naked head. Also called Asian King Vulture / Pondicherry Vulture. Now found in Rajasthan, MP. CR since 2000.
🟠 Endangered (EN) · 🟢 Near Threatened (NT) · ⬛ Least Concern (LC)
🟠 EN
Egyptian Vulture
Neophron percnopterus
80% decline. Smallest Indian vulture. Uses tools (rocks to break eggs). Yellow face, white plumage. EN globally. Migrant + resident.
🟢 NT
Himalayan Griffon Vulture
Gyps himalayensis
Largest Indian vulture. High-altitude resident. First captive breeding at Assam State Zoo, Guwahati (2024) — milestone. Common winter migrant to plains.
🦅
🟢 NT
Eurasian Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Migratory — winter visitor to India. Found in Rajasthan, Gujarat. Large Gyps species less impacted by Diclofenac due to lower Indian exposure. NT globally.
🟢 NT
Cinereous / Black Vulture
Aegypius monachus
World’s largest Old World vulture by mass. Dark black-brown overall. Winter migrant to India. Found at Jorbeer, Rajasthan — a famous vulture concentration site.
⬛ LC
Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier)
Gypaetus barbatus
Least Concern globally. Eats bones — drops them from height to break. Orange-stained belly (from bathing in iron-rich mud). WPA Schedule I in India despite LC status.
All 9 Species — Quick Reference Table
| # | Species | Scientific Name | IUCN | WPA Schedule | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White-rumped Vulture | Gyps bengalensis | 🔴 CR (2000) | Schedule I | 99.9% decline; <6,000 left; primary Diclofenac victim |
| 2 | Indian / Long-billed Vulture | Gyps indicus | 🔴 CR (2002) | Schedule I | 97% decline; 5,000–15,000 in wild; endemic to Indian subcontinent |
| 3 | Slender-billed Vulture | Gyps tenuirostris | 🔴 CR (2000) | Schedule I | 99.9% decline; NE India and Terai; narrower bill |
| 4 | Red-headed Vulture | Sarcogyps calvus | 🔴 CR (2000) | Schedule I | 91% decline; Asian King Vulture; red naked head |
| 5 | Egyptian Vulture | Neophron percnopterus | 🟠 EN | Schedule I | 80% decline; uses tools; yellow face; smallest Indian vulture |
| 6 | Himalayan Griffon | Gyps himalayensis | 🟢 NT | Schedule IV | Largest Indian vulture; high-altitude; first captive breeding Guwahati 2024 |
| 7 | Eurasian Griffon | Gyps fulvus | 🟢 NT | Schedule IV | Winter migrant; Rajasthan, Gujarat; less Diclofenac exposure |
| 8 | Cinereous / Black Vulture | Aegypius monachus | 🟢 NT | Schedule IV | World’s largest Old World vulture; winter migrant; Jorbeer, Rajasthan |
| 9 | Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) | Gypaetus barbatus | ⬛ LC | Schedule I | Bone-eater; drops bones from height; orange belly; Himalayas |
⭐ Memory Trick — 9 Species Quickly
4 CR (Diclofenac victims): White-rumped · Indian (Long-billed) · Slender-billed · Red-headed → WISR = “Wiser to protect them!”
1 EN: Egyptian Vulture (yellow face, tool user)
3 NT: Himalayan · Eurasian Griffon · Cinereous/Black
1 LC: Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) — bone-eater; Himalayas
WPA Schedule I: All 4 CR species + Egyptian (EN) + Bearded (LC) → Bearded gets Schedule I despite being LC! All others Schedule IV.
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The Diclofenac Crisis — How One Drug Nearly Wiped Out India’s Vultures
The fastest collapse of any bird species in recorded history
How Diclofenac Kills Vultures — Step by Step
Step 1 — Diclofenac becomes popular (Early 1990s)
Diclofenac is a cheap, effective NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation in cattle (arthritis, injuries). It became widely available and affordable in India from around 1994. Farmers used it extensively to keep sick cattle working longer before they died.
Step 2 — Treated cattle die, carcasses become poisoned
Diclofenac remains in cattle tissue for several days after treatment — even after the animal dies. When a farmer disposes of a dead cow at an animal dump, the carcass still contains lethal amounts of Diclofenac.
Step 3 — Vultures feed on contaminated carcasses
Vultures are nature’s disposal specialists — they fly great distances to locate carcasses. When they feed on a Diclofenac-contaminated carcass, even a tiny residue is fatal. Studies showed even 0.8% contaminated carcasses could crash vulture populations significantly; India’s actual contamination rate was ~10%.
Step 4 — Visceral gout and kidney failure
Diclofenac causes visceral gout — uric acid crystals form in the kidneys and other organs, causing fatal kidney failure. Vultures collapse, dropping from trees and ledges. Their blood becomes full of uric acid. Death is rapid. Vultures are uniquely sensitive — humans and other animals can safely consume Diclofenac, but it is invariably fatal to vultures.
Step 5 — Population collapses across South Asia
From ~40 million vultures in 1993, the three Gyps species declined by 99%+ in just 10–15 years — the fastest recorded decline of any bird species in history. By 2007, White-rumped Vultures were at 1/500th of their 1992 population. The cause was a mystery for years — birds were dying with no obvious explanation.
Step 6 — Cause discovered (2003)
In 2003, Lindsay Oaks and team at The Peregrine Fund identified Diclofenac as the cause — through tissue analysis of dead vultures from India and Pakistan. This was one of the most important environmental science discoveries of the century. Published in Nature in 2004.
Step 7 — India bans veterinary Diclofenac (2006)
Following pressure from BNHS, scientists, and NGOs, India banned veterinary Diclofenac in 2006. Pakistan and Nepal also banned it in 2006; Bangladesh in 2010. But: human-formulation Diclofenac continued to be illegally diverted for veterinary use. A ban on multi-dose vials came in 2015. Recovery has been slow in India compared to Nepal.
📌 UPSC Key Points — Diclofenac
- Diclofenac = NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) — not a pesticide, not a rodenticide
- Cause discovered: 2003 by Lindsay Oaks / Peregrine Fund; published 2004
- Kills vultures via visceral gout → kidney failure
- India banned veterinary use: 2006
- Safe alternatives: Meloxicam (discovered safe for vultures 2006) and Tolfenamic acid
- Other vulture-toxic drugs also identified: Ketoprofen (2008), Aceclofenac (metabolises to Diclofenac in cattle), Nimesulide
- India banned Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac for veterinary use in August 2023 current affairs
- Nimesulide still legal for veterinary use — ongoing concern
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The Cascading Human Impact of Vulture Loss August 2024 Study
When vultures vanish, humans pay the price — in deaths and disease
Feral Dog Explosion
Vultures and dogs compete for carcasses. When vultures vanished, feral dog populations increased by ~7 million (1993–2016). Dogs inflicted an estimated 40 million additional dog bites.
Rabies Deaths
India is already the world’s rabies capital (36% of global rabies deaths). The feral dog surge caused an estimated 48,000 additional deaths from rabies linked to the vulture decline (1993–2016).
Excess Human Deaths (2024 Study)
A landmark August 2024 study (American Economic Review) found that vulture decline caused ~100,000 additional human deaths per year between 2000–2005 — from disease, rabies, and contaminated water.
Economic Loss
Vulture loss cost India an estimated $69.4 billion per year in economic damage — health costs, livestock carcass disposal costs, and lost ecosystem services.
Parsi Sky Burial Crisis
The Parsi community’s ancient Dokhma (Tower of Silence) ritual — where the deceased are offered to vultures — became impossible as vultures vanished. A centuries-old religious tradition was disrupted.
Water Contamination
Without vultures, rotting carcasses at animal dumps contaminate water sources and soil. Vulture stomachs destroy pathogens that then leach into groundwater and rivers when carcasses decompose slowly.
🔴 Landmark Study — August 2024 (Current Affairs)
A peer-reviewed study published in the American Economic Review (August 2024) quantified the human cost of India’s vulture crisis. By comparing human death rates in districts with formerly high vulture populations vs those with historically low numbers, the study found a 4.2% increase in all-cause death rates in areas where vultures disappeared. This translates to approximately 100,000 additional deaths per year during 2000–2005 and an economic loss of $69.4 billion per year. This study is one of the strongest quantitative arguments ever made for the economic value of a single species’ ecosystem services.
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Steps Taken by Government & Conservation Organisations
From banning Diclofenac to building breeding centres — a multi-pronged response
Ban on Veterinary Diclofenac 2006
India, Pakistan, Nepal (2006) · Bangladesh (2010) · Multi-dose vials banned India (2015)
- India banned veterinary use of Diclofenac in 2006 — following the BNHS campaign and the scientific evidence from Lindsay Oaks (2003)
- Ban strengthened in 2015 — multi-dose vials of Diclofenac (intended for humans but diverted for veterinary use) were banned
- August 2023: India banned Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac for veterinary purposes — both proven fatal to vultures
- Safe alternatives promoted: Meloxicam (proven safe for vultures; widely adopted in Nepal) and Tolfenamic acid
- Problem persists: Human-formulation Diclofenac still illegally sold for veterinary use in India. Nimesulide still legal — a continuing concern
Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore Est. 2001
Haryana Forest Dept + BNHS + RSPB · World’s largest vulture breeding facility
- Started in 2001 as a Vulture Care Centre (VCC) in Pinjore, Haryana; upgraded to Asia’s first Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) in 2004
- Named after Jatayu — the mythical vulture from the Ramayana who tried to save Sita
- Location: Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, Pinjore, Haryana — 8 km off NH-22
- Run jointly by: Haryana Forest Department + BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) + RSPB (UK)
- Focuses on three CR species: White-rumped, Long-billed (Indian), and Slender-billed vultures
- World’s largest vulture conservation breeding facility — also the largest facility for House Sparrow conservation
- In 2016, released captive-bred vultures to wild as part of Asia’s first vulture reintroduction programme
- Research at JCBC confirmed Diclofenac as the primary cause of vulture death — vital evidence for the 2006 ban
- Currently, 9 VCBCs across India — 3 directly run by BNHS (Pinjore, Rani in Assam, Rajabhatkhawa in WB)
SAVE — Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction Est. 2011
BNHS · RSPB · BirdLife International · 14 partners · Regional consortium
- SAVE = Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction — formed in 2011 as a consortium of 14 partner organisations + 14 Indian government agencies
- Partners include: BNHS (India), BirdLife International, RSPB (UK), Bird Conservation Nepal, International Centre for Birds of Prey (UK), Zoological Society of London
- Goal: Restore at least 40% of the lost South Asian vulture population — primarily White-rumped, Long-billed, and Slender-billed
- Target: Set up 8 vulture breeding centres across India with resident populations of 25+ vultures each — releasing 600 captive-bred birds across South Asia
- Key activities: Captive breeding, drug testing, undercover pharmacy surveys, community education, Vulture Safe Zone development
- IUCN India Motion (2004): India moved an IUCN motion for a regional approach to vulture conservation — precursor to SAVE
Vulture Action Plan 2020–2025 MoEFCC 2020
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change · India’s comprehensive vulture strategy
- Launched by MoEFCC in November 2020 — India’s comprehensive national strategy for vulture conservation
- Key targets:
- Ensure minimum use of Diclofenac — set up mechanism to ban all vulture-toxic drugs
- Establish additional VCBCs to a total of 8+ across India
- Implement Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) programme at 8 locations where extant vulture populations exist
- Build 4 rescue centres: Pinjore (North), Bhopal (Central), Guwahati (NE), Hyderabad (South)
- Launch dedicated conservation plans for Red-headed and Egyptian vultures (with breeding programmes)
- Conduct a nationwide vulture population census
- Vulture Safe Zone criterion: Declared only when no toxic drugs found for 2 consecutive years in pharmacy surveys + vulture populations stable
Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) & Vulture Restaurants
8 VSZ locations · Koderma ‘Vulture Restaurant’ · Jorbeer feeding site, Rajasthan
- Vulture Safe Zones (VSZ): Areas of ~30,000 sq km around major vulture colonies where toxic drugs are monitored and banned. Currently being implemented at 8 locations across India (including 2 in UP)
- Vulture Restaurants: Safe feeding stations where drug-free carcasses are provided to vultures — ensuring they have access to uncontaminated food. A “vulture restaurant” was established in Koderma district, Jharkhand
- Famous feeding sites: Jorbeer, Rajasthan (near Bikaner) — one of India’s best places to see multiple vulture species together
- VSZ teams carry out undercover pharmacy surveys (checking if Diclofenac is being sold illegally) and cattle carcass drug tests regularly
- VSZ community teams also conduct awareness drives with livestock farmers and vets about safe alternatives
Promoting Safe Alternative Drugs Ongoing
Meloxicam · Tolfenamic acid · Veterinary substitute campaigns
- Meloxicam — identified as a safe alternative NSAID for cattle that is rapidly metabolised and harmless to vultures. BNHS and RSPB have promoted its adoption. In Nepal, Meloxicam is now the dominant veterinary NSAID (89.9% of sales in 2017) — contributing to Nepal’s faster vulture recovery vs India.
- Tolfenamic acid — another NSAID proven safe for Gyps vultures in India (study 2022). Being promoted as another alternative.
- BNHS scientists continue testing all new NSAIDs entering the market to check vulture safety before they become widespread — a proactive approach.
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Other Threats Beyond Diclofenac
Vultures face multiple stressors — drugs are not the only problem
🔴 Other Vulture-Toxic NSAIDs — Still a Problem in 2024
- Aceclofenac — metabolises into Diclofenac inside a cow’s body → equally deadly to vultures. Banned for veterinary use in India in August 2023
- Ketoprofen — proven fatal to vultures (2008). Banned for veterinary use in India in August 2023
- Nimesulide — proven fatal to vultures; still LEGAL for veterinary use in India. A major ongoing gap in protection.
- Studies show vultures in protected areas in India still dying from toxic drug exposure — even within national parks and sanctuaries
- Human-formulation Diclofenac still widely sold in India for illegal veterinary use — a persistent enforcement problem
Other Threats to Indian Vultures
- Lead poisoning: Vultures feeding on carcasses of animals shot with lead ammunition accumulate lead — causing fatal neurological damage. Growing problem as hunting increases in some areas.
- Power line collisions and electrocution: Vultures fly low and collide with high-voltage transmission lines. India’s expanding power grid poses increasing risk — especially in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- Habitat loss: Large old trees (essential for vulture nesting) are being felled. Vultures prefer nesting on tall trees or cliffs undisturbed by humans. Urban expansion and forest degradation reduce nesting sites.
- Reduced food supply: Changing livestock management (more rapid carcass disposal, incineration) reduces available food for vultures. Campaigns like “Gram Swachhata Abhiyan” reduce open carcass dumping — unintentionally reducing vulture feeding sites.
- Human disturbance at nesting sites: India’s first nationwide breeding vulture assessment found 70% of previously known nesting sites no longer active — indicating range contraction. 54% of documented nests now only in Protected Areas.
- Slow reproduction: Vultures are K-strategists — they breed slowly (1 egg per year, long incubation). Even after the crisis is fixed, population recovery will take decades.
🔴 Latest Survey Findings (2024-25) Current Affairs
- India’s first nationwide breeding vulture assessment revealed continuing habitat contraction among 4 CR species — nesting now in only a fraction of historical sites
- 70% of previously known nesting sites showed no active breeding — significant range contraction
- 54% of all nests now within Protected Areas — reflecting increasing dependence on managed landscapes as the rest becomes unsuitable
- Largest breeding colony of Long-billed Vulture: Mukundara Hills, Rajasthan
- Nepal showing a strong recovery — meloxicam adoption is helping; India’s recovery slower due to continued illegal Diclofenac use
- Vulture Count 2024 (WWF-India initiative, Sept 7–Oct 6, 2024): National citizen science vulture counting exercise to gather population data
- First captive breeding of Himalayan Vulture in India: Assam State Zoo, Guwahati (2024) — milestone for a Near Threatened species
★
Complete UPSC Cheat Sheet
Everything at a glance — memorise these before your exam
⭐ Indian Vulture Conservation — Master Checklist
- India has 9 vulture species | 4 CR + 1 EN + 3 NT + 1 LC
- 4 CR: White-rumped (Gyps bengalensis) · Long-billed/Indian (Gyps indicus) · Slender-billed (Gyps tenuirostris) · Red-headed (Sarcogyps calvus)
- Cause: Diclofenac (NSAID) — causes visceral gout → kidney failure in vultures
- Cause identified: 2003 — Lindsay Oaks / The Peregrine Fund
- Diclofenac banned (India): 2006 | Multi-dose vials banned: 2015
- Ketoprofen + Aceclofenac banned: August 2023 CA
- Safe alternative drug: Meloxicam (+ Tolfenamic acid)
- White-rumped Vulture decline: 99.9% (1992–2007) | Long-billed: 97% | Red-headed: 91%
- JCBC Pinjore: 2001 (VCC) → 2004 (VCBC) | Run by: Haryana FD + BNHS + RSPB
- JCBC = World’s largest vulture breeding facility | Named after: Jatayu (Ramayana)
- First captive-bred release to wild: 2016 (Asia’s first vulture reintroduction)
- SAVE launched: 2011 | Partners: BNHS, RSPB, BirdLife, ZSL etc.
- Vulture Action Plan: 2020–2025 | Launched by: MoEFCC
- Vulture Safe Zones: 8 locations | VSZ declared when drug-free for 2 consecutive years
- Vulture Restaurant: Koderma, Jharkhand | Famous feeding site: Jorbeer, Rajasthan
- Human impact: ~100,000 extra deaths/year (2000–2005) | Economic loss: $69.4 billion/year (2024 AER study)
- Feral dogs increased: 7 million extra | Extra dog bites: 40 million | Rabies deaths: 48,000
- Parsi sky burial (Dokhma) disrupted by vulture loss
- International Vulture Awareness Day: First Saturday of September
- Currently: 9 VCBCs in India | 3 directly by BNHS
- WPA Schedule I: 4 CR species + Egyptian (EN) + Bearded (LC) | Others: Schedule IV
🧪 Practice MCQs — Test Yourself
Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to:
(a) The destruction of their nesting sites by new invasive species
(b) A sudden increase in the number of rival birds
(c) The use of a veterinary drug that is toxic to vultures
(d) Scarcity of food sources for them
✅ Official Answer: (c) Use of a veterinary drug toxic to vultures
This is one of the most frequently cited UPSC questions on vultures. The correct answer is (c) — the veterinary drug Diclofenac (a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug/NSAID) caused the catastrophic collapse of India’s three Gyps vulture species: White-rumped, Indian (Long-billed), and Slender-billed. All three were classified as Critically Endangered by 2000–2002. The drug was widely used to treat cattle from the early 1990s. When vultures fed on carcasses of Diclofenac-treated cattle, they died of fatal kidney failure (visceral gout). Even 0.8% contaminated carcasses could crash vulture populations. India banned veterinary Diclofenac in 2006. Option (d) is partially related — food WAS abundant, the problem was that the food had become poisonous, not scarce.
Q2. Consider the following statements about the Indian vulture crisis:
1. Diclofenac causes kidney failure (visceral gout) in vultures when they feed on treated cattle carcasses.
2. Even a small proportion (0.8%) of contaminated carcasses can cause significant population collapse.
3. The cause of the vulture decline was identified in 2003 by researchers at The Peregrine Fund.
4. India banned veterinary Diclofenac only in 2015.
Which are CORRECT?
✅ Answer: (c) — 1, 2 and 3 only
1 ✅: Diclofenac causes visceral gout — uric acid crystals forming in kidneys and organs, causing rapid death. Even trace amounts are fatal to Gyps vultures. 2 ✅: Data modelling showed that just 0.8% contaminated carcasses can cause significant population crashes. India’s actual contamination rate (~10%) was far above this threshold. 3 ✅: The cause was identified in 2003 by Lindsay Oaks and his team at The Peregrine Fund, working with evidence from Pakistan and India. Published in Nature in 2004. 4 ❌ Wrong: India banned veterinary Diclofenac in 2006 — NOT 2015. The 2015 measure was specifically about banning multi-dose vials (the main source of illegal veterinary use of human-formulation Diclofenac). The primary ban was 2006.
Q3. The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC) at Pinjore is:
1. Named after the mythical vulture from the Ramayana
2. Asia’s first vulture conservation breeding facility
3. Run by the Central Zoo Authority of India independently
4. Located in Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana
Select the correct answer:
✅ Answer: (c) — 1, 2 and 4 only
1 ✅: JCBC is named after Jatayu — the mythical vulture king from the Ramayana who attempted to rescue Sita from Ravana. An apt name given the centre’s role in saving India’s real vultures. 2 ✅: Established in 2001 as a Vulture Care Centre, upgraded to Asia’s first Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) in 2004. 3 ❌ Wrong: JCBC is run by Haryana Forest Department + BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) + RSPB (UK) — NOT the Central Zoo Authority independently. CZA does oversee zoos but JCBC’s specific management is the FD+BNHS partnership. 4 ✅: Located within Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary, about 8 km from Pinjore town, Haryana.
Q4. Which of the following drugs are CURRENTLY proven toxic to vultures but were banned for veterinary use in India in August 2023?
✅ Answer: (c) Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac (banned August 2023)
In August 2023, India banned the veterinary use of Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac — both proven fatal to vultures. Ketoprofen was identified as vulture-toxic in 2008. Aceclofenac metabolises into Diclofenac inside a cow’s body, making it equally deadly. Diclofenac (option b) was banned much earlier in 2006 — not 2023. Nimesulide (option b) is still unfortunately legal for veterinary use. Meloxicam and Tolfenamic acid (option a) are the SAFE alternatives — they are being promoted, not banned. Options (d) — Ibuprofen and Aspirin — have not been specifically tested/banned in this Indian vulture context.
Q5. Match the vulture species with their IUCN status:
1. White-rumped Vulture — (A) Near Threatened
2. Egyptian Vulture — (B) Critically Endangered
3. Himalayan Vulture — (C) Least Concern
4. Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) — (D) Endangered
✅ Answer: (b) 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C
1-B ✅ White-rumped = Critically Endangered (CR): Gyps bengalensis. 99.9% decline from 1992–2007. The worst-hit species in the Diclofenac crisis. CR since 2000. 2-D ✅ Egyptian = Endangered (EN): Neophron percnopterus. Small yellow-faced vulture. Known for tool use. 80% decline. EN globally. 3-A ✅ Himalayan = Near Threatened (NT): Gyps himalayensis. Largest Indian vulture. High-altitude species. First captive bred in India at Guwahati Zoo (2024). 4-C ✅ Bearded Vulture = Least Concern (LC): Gypaetus barbatus (Lammergeier). The bone-eater. Despite being LC globally, India gives it WPA Schedule I protection — a common UPSC trap!
Q6. India’s Vulture Action Plan 2020–2025 was launched by which ministry, and what is the criterion for declaring a Vulture Safe Zone?
✅ Answer: (c)
The Vulture Action Plan 2020–2025 was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in November 2020. For a Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) to be officially declared, two conditions must be met: (1) No toxic drugs found in undercover pharmacy surveys AND cattle carcass surveys for two consecutive years, AND (2) Vulture populations stable or not declining in that area. The “two consecutive years” criterion is specifically set to ensure the drug-free status is sustained, not just a one-time measurement. Currently, Vulture Safe Zones are being implemented at 8 locations across India (including 2 in Uttar Pradesh), covering ~30,000 sq km each.
📜 UPSC Prelims PYQs — More Official Questions
Consider the following:
1. Diclofenac
2. Meloxicam
3. Aceclofenac
4. Ketoprofen
Which of the above drugs are identified as vulture-toxic?
✅ Official Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
1 ✅ Diclofenac: The primary culprit. NSAID that causes visceral gout and kidney failure in vultures. Banned for veterinary use in India in 2006. 2 ❌ Meloxicam: This is the SAFE alternative! Meloxicam is an NSAID that is rapidly metabolised by cattle and is harmless to vultures. It is being promoted as the replacement for Diclofenac. Nepal adopted meloxicam widely — and shows much faster vulture recovery. 3 ✅ Aceclofenac: Metabolises into Diclofenac inside a cow’s body — equally toxic to vultures. Banned for veterinary use in India in August 2023. 4 ✅ Ketoprofen: Another NSAID proven toxic to vultures (identified 2008). Banned for veterinary use in India in August 2023. Note: Nimesulide (not in the list) is also proven vulture-toxic but is still legally allowed for veterinary use in India.
With reference to the Indian vultures, consider the following statements:
1. BNHS conducted research and found diclofenac to be responsible for the rapid decline of vultures.
2. India has about nine species of vultures found in the wild.
3. The “Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre” is located in Rajasthan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Official Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
1 ✅: BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) played a crucial role in identifying and publicising the Diclofenac crisis — they campaigned for the drug ban and BNHS scientists continue testing drugs for vulture safety. The original scientific discovery was by Lindsay Oaks / Peregrine Fund in 2003, but BNHS was central to the Indian response. 2 ✅: India has 9 species of vultures in the wild — 4 CR, 1 EN, 3 NT, 1 LC. 3 ❌ Wrong: The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre is in Pinjore, Haryana — NOT Rajasthan. The famous feeding site for multiple vulture species is Jorbeer, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Pinjore is in the Panchkula district of Haryana, near Chandigarh. This location question is a frequent UPSC trap.
Consider the following statements:
1. The vulture population decline in India was due to Diclofenac poisoning.
2. Meloxicam is a safe alternative for treating cattle instead of Diclofenac.
3. The Gyps genus of vultures was most affected by the Diclofenac crisis.
Which of the above statements are correct?
✅ Official Answer: (c) All three correct
1 ✅: The Diclofenac crisis caused one of the fastest bird population collapses in history — 99.9% decline in White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) between 1992–2007. 2 ✅: Meloxicam is a rapid-metabolising NSAID safe for vultures — identified as the safe substitute. Nepal adopted it widely and shows much faster vulture recovery. BNHS actively promotes meloxicam in India. 3 ✅: The genus Gyps was most affected — White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian/Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus), and Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) all suffered 97–99.9% declines. The Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus — a different genus) also declined 91%, but the Gyps genus bore the brunt.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
This is one of biology’s most surprising discoveries. Vultures metabolise Diclofenac differently from mammals. In mammals (cattle, dogs, humans), Diclofenac is rapidly broken down and excreted. But in vultures — particularly the Gyps genus — the drug accumulates in the kidneys and causes uric acid to crystallise out of solution, forming needle-like crystals in the kidneys, liver, and other organs. This is called visceral gout. The process is rapid and invariably fatal. Scientists are still studying the exact metabolic pathway. One key difference: vultures have high uric acid in their blood naturally (like all birds), and Diclofenac appears to interfere with uric acid excretion specifically in Old World vultures. Even more striking: the drug was widely used safely in human medicine for decades — nobody knew it was a vulture killer. This is why researchers spent years looking for a virus or bacteria before the 2003 Diclofenac discovery.
Several reasons explain why India’s vulture recovery is much slower than Nepal’s: (1) Illegal Diclofenac still available: Human-formulation Diclofenac (meant for human pain relief) is still widely sold in Indian pharmacies, and many vets illegally purchase it at low cost and use it on cattle. Undercover surveys consistently find Diclofenac still available for veterinary purchase across India. (2) New toxic drugs: Even as Diclofenac declined, other toxic NSAIDs (Ketoprofen, Aceclofenac, Nimesulide) filled the gap. Vultures continued dying from these. Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac were only banned in August 2023; Nimesulide is still legal. (3) Slow reproduction: Vultures lay one egg per year. Even if every adult survived, population recovery would take decades. (4) Habitat loss: 70% of known nesting sites are now inactive — recovering populations need nesting sites too. (5) Contrast with Nepal: Nepal adopted Meloxicam much more thoroughly — it now accounts for 89.9% of veterinary NSAIDs. Vulture populations in Nepal are showing statistically significant increases, while India’s remain roughly stable at a tiny fraction of historical levels.
A Vulture Restaurant is a designated feeding station where safe, drug-free carcasses are provided to vultures. Here’s how it works and why it matters: (1) Guaranteed safe food: Livestock farmers are paid or incentivised to bring dead cattle carcasses to designated dump sites. Before the carcasses are made available, they are tested to ensure they contain no Diclofenac or other toxic drugs. Vultures can then feed safely. (2) Reduces exposure to contaminated carcasses: If vultures are consuming a significant portion of their diet from Vulture Restaurants, they spend less time feeding on potentially contaminated carcasses elsewhere. (3) Monitoring: These sites allow researchers to count vultures, observe their condition, band/tag individuals, and monitor trends. (4) Community engagement: Nearby communities become stakeholders in vulture conservation — many sites generate eco-tourism income. India’s notable “Vulture Restaurant” is in Koderma district, Jharkhand. Jorbeer, Bikaner, Rajasthan is one of India’s most famous natural vulture feeding sites, not formally a “vulture restaurant” but a natural aggregation point where large numbers of multiple vulture species can be observed.
The Parsi (Zoroastrian) community practises sky burial, also called the Dokhma or Tower of Silence ritual. In this ancient tradition, the deceased are laid on top of a tower (Dokhma) open to the sky, where vultures consume the body as the final act of purification — the deceased person’s last act of charity, giving their body back to nature. This is considered by Parsis to be more ecologically sound than burial (which pollutes the soil) or cremation (which uses fire and fuel). The tradition requires abundant vultures. When India’s vulture crisis devastated populations in Mumbai and other Parsi communities, the tradition could no longer be performed — there were no vultures to complete the rites. The Parsi community approached the International Centre for Birds of Prey for help with vulture breeding as early as 2002. This connection gave the vulture crisis additional cultural and religious urgency. Some Parsi communities have reluctantly switched to solar concentrators (large mirrors that concentrate sunlight to decompose bodies), but this remains controversial and culturally less accepted.
Legacy IAS — UPSC Civil Services Coaching, Bangalore |
Content updated to 2024-25. Key current affairs: Ketoprofen & Aceclofenac banned August 2023; Vulture Count 2024 (WWF-India); First captive breeding of Himalayan Vulture at Guwahati Zoo (2024); AER Study on 100,000 excess deaths (August 2024); Vulture Action Plan 2020–25 progress. All population figures from IUCN Red List and published ornithological surveys.
