Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 16:21 IST
India lost 99% of its vultures due to a veterinary drug. Their absence has caused disease, death, and even economic loss. Conservation efforts are underway, but threats remain
Ingesting traces of Diclofenac caused acute kidney failure in vultures, but despite its ban in India in 2006, illegal use persists. (News18)
Once a common sight circling above carcasses, vultures have all but vanished from India’s skies. Research by the University of Chicago revealed that between 1990 and 2007, 99% of the vulture population in India perished.
This collapse has had dire consequences: in the absence of these natural scavengers, infections from decaying animal carcasses have spread, reportedly contributing to five lakh human deaths.
The Diclofenac Disaster
The principal culprit behind this ecological tragedy is the veterinary drug Diclofenac, commonly used in the 1990s to treat livestock. Though effective, Diclofenac residues in cattle carcasses proved lethal to vultures.
Ingesting even trace amounts caused acute kidney failure in the birds. Despite India banning the drug in 2006, its illegal use still persists.
Alarming Decline Rates
India was once home to an estimated 40 to 50 million vultures. By 2007, that number had dropped catastrophically. Populations of:
- White-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) declined by 99.9%
- Indian vultures (Gyps indicus) by 95%
- Slender-billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) by 97%
This marks one of the fastest recorded declines of any bird species in history.
Threats Beyond Diclofenac
Even after the ban, vulture populations have not rebounded. Vultures breed slowly, laying just one egg annually, and face numerous other threats including:
- Electrocution from power lines
- Collisions with wind turbines
- Injuries from kite strings
Their absence has triggered a rise in feral dog and crow populations, increasing the risk of rabies and other zoonotic diseases.
Cultural And Economic Fallout
The decline also impacts cultural practices. The Parsi community, which conducts sky burials dependent on vulture scavenging, has had to alter funeral rites. The economic toll is staggering too. Between 2000 and 2005, losses due to vulture extinction were estimated at $69.4 billion annually, affecting industries like leather production.
Since 2016, India has undertaken conservation efforts, including the reintroduction of protected vulture species into the wild. However, experts stress that community engagement and stringent enforcement of Diclofenac bans are critical for reversing this crisis.
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