Indian vulture (Long-billed vulture) : Gyps indicus

Indian vulture (Long-billed vulture)
Gyps indicus

 

 

Indian vulture: Gyps indicus; Synonyms: Long-billed vulture; Hindi: Gidh; Telugu: Podugumukku boruva.

 

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

 

Once numerous in India, this species has suffered a rapid decline in numbers all over due to feeding on carcasses of cattle treated with Diclofenac, which caused rapid renal failure in these birds. Some estimates suggest that even if 1% of carcasses contain diclofenac, it is sufficient to cause vulture populations to collapse.

 

Diclofenac, a drug belonging to NSAID group, is also used by human beings for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

 

Its use in veterinary medicine as an anti-inflammatory drug was banned in 2006, however, studies by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) found sale and use of diclofenac rampant in veterinary medicine.

 

This is a rare sighting in the present context.

 

There was a time, when I was growing up in the area, variety of vultures were extremely common in the Central Ridge area of New Delhi. Almost as common as kites and crows. They would feed on the animals in the ridge area and any cattle that died in those woods. Incidentally, kites are also disappearing but do not know if causes are same.

 

Photographed at Ranthambore, Distt. Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India on 19.10.2014

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with Tamron 150-600mm Lens.