Syllabus
GS Paper III – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Context
A recent study has uncovered a significant connection between the decline of vultures in India and the resulting human health crisis.
Social Costs of Vulture Decline
Introduction
Vultures in India have experienced a dramatic decline, leading to significant ecological and health impacts. Currently, vulture populations are primarily found in central and peninsular India, south of the Gangetic plains, with smaller populations in southwest Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The species has become extinct in Southeast Asia. India is home to nine species of vultures, five of which belong to the genus Gyps, while the remaining four are monotypic. This decline has been linked to the widespread use of the drug diclofenac, which has caused catastrophic population drops. Recent studies highlight the critical role vultures play in maintaining ecological balance and preventing human health crises.
Role of vultures
- Role in Ecosystem:
- Vultures feed on carrion, the remains of dead animals.
- They act as the ‘rubbish collectors’ of the natural world.
- Help eliminate potentially harmful bacteria from the environment.
- Limit the spread of diseases such as anthrax and rabies.
- Role in Culture:
- Significant in the Parsi community’s practice of Dakhma or ‘Towers of Silence’.
- Vultures strip away the flesh from the bones through their scavenging process.
- Nutrient Recycling: Vultures help recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- Controlling Pest Populations: Reduce the number of carcasses that could attract pests and other scavengers.
- Economic Benefits: Indirectly reduce healthcare costs and livestock losses by preventing the spread of diseases.
Reasons for declining vulture population in India
- Decline:
- In the mid-1990s, India’s vulture population neared extinction.
- White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, and Red-headed Vulture populations declined by 98%, 95%, and 91% respectively.
- Remaining vulture populations are largely confined to protected areas and primarily feed on wildlife.
- Veterinary drugs:
- The primary cause of decline is the widespread use of diclofenac in livestock.
- Vultures consuming carcasses of treated livestock suffer fatal kidney failure.
- Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is used to treat sick cattle.
- Alternatives to diclofenac, such as aceclofenac, ketoprofen, and nimesulide, also negatively affect vultures.
- Usage of NSAIDs:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed for treating conditions such as arthritis.
- Diclofenac and aceclofenac continue to be produced for human use.
- Loss of Habitat:
- Urbanization, quarrying, and mining contribute to habitat loss for vultures.
- Dwindling Availability of Food:
- Carcasses are increasingly being buried and burned, reducing food availability.
- Competition from feral dogs also poses risks to vulture populations.
- Poisoning:
- Deliberate poisoning of carcasses, intended to kill dogs and other carnivores, also kills vultures.
Social and Economic Impacts of Decline in Vulture Population
- Sanitation Crisis:
- The dramatic decline in vulture populations over the past two decades has led to unforeseen consequences for both wildlife and human health.
- Rotting carcasses left unattended potentially contaminate and pollute soil, air, and water sources.
- This situation allows for increased feeding and breeding of stray dogs.
- Proliferation of Harmful Microbes: The absence of vultures has allowed bacteria and pathogens to proliferate.
- Disease in Humans:
- The growth of harmful microbes has led to a surge in human diseases and deaths.
- Diseases such as rabies have been exacerbated by the rise in stray dog populations.
- Treatment of these diseases increases the health expenditure of individuals and the government.
- Deaths in Humans:
- There has been a 4% increase in death rates in areas where vultures once thrived and are now absent.
- This decline caused approximately 100,000 additional human deaths annually between 2000 and 2005.
- Economic Loss: The economic impact of these additional deaths is estimated at over $69 billion per year in mortality damages.
- Impact on Tanning Industry: India’s tanning industry once relied on the quick removal of carrion by vultures. In their absence, shifting to burying or burning cattle has reduced the supply of cattle skin for leather manufacturing.
- Cultural Impact: The decline affects the tradition of Dhakma of the Parsi community, whereby the burial rituals require vultures to consume the body.
Conservation Measures by India
- Vulture Re-introduction Program: In 2016, Asia’s first vulture re-introduction program was initiated by the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore.
- Vulture Action Plan 2020-25: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the Vulture Action Plan 2020-25 to protect and conserve vulture populations.
- SAVE Program: The SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction) program, a consortium of regional and international organizations, works towards vulture conservation.
- Ban on Diclofenac:
- Diclofenac has been banned in veterinary medicine since 2008.
- Aceclofenac and ketoprofen were banned for animal use in 2023.
- Vulture Safe Zones: Establishment of Vulture Safe Zones where the use of harmful veterinary drugs is strictly controlled to create safe habitats for vultures.
Way forward
- Creating Awareness: Raising awareness among people about the importance of vultures in the ecosystem.
- One Health Approach: Adopting theOne Health approach for a holistic coverage of human, animal, and environmental health.
- Preventing Misuse of Veterinary Drugs: Preventing the misuse of veterinary NSAIDs by ensuring their sale only on prescription.
- Scientific Disposal of Carcasses: Implementing a scientific manner for the disposal of livestock carcasses, especially those of animals that died during treatment.
- Finding Nontoxic Alternatives: Researching and promoting nontoxic alternatives for animal steroids.
- In-Situ Conservation: Focusing on in-situ conservation of vultures through captive breeding programs.
- Continued Action: Ensuring continued action to support the survival and recovery of these vital scavengers.
Conclusion
The dramatic decline in vulture populations in India has had profound social and economic repercussions. Vultures, as nature’s efficient scavengers, play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by disposing of carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases. Their absence has led to a sanitation crisis, increased disease transmission, and a rise in human mortality rates, with significant economic costs estimated at billions of dollars annually. Additionally, the cultural practices of communities like the Parsis have been disrupted. Addressing this crisis requires continued conservation efforts, public awareness, and the adoption of safer veterinary practices to ensure the survival and recovery of these vital scavengers.
Reference: IE
Related PYQ
How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in the conservation of flora and fauna? [UPSC CSE – 2017 Mains]
Practice Question
The dramatic decline in vulture populations in India has led to significant ecological and socio-economic consequences. Discuss the primary causes of this decline and evaluate the conservation measures taken by the government and non-governmental organizations to address this issue. [250 words]