NEHA SINHA
Gyps vultures are a critically endangered species, having faced a 99.9 per cent population decline in the last decade.
Of the few Gyps vultures left in India, some are in Assam.
In Assam, the only known breeding colony is in Sivsagar.
And in Sivsagar, a single poisoned carcass has led to the death of 55 vultures.
Photo: at the site, about 110 kms of Jorhat. By Mayur Bawri
The BNHS vulture team was informed about the death of more than 55 vultures. Villagers discovered the bodies on 24 January, lying all over the grass, most of them dead, and some of them just about to die.
Also found was a carcass of a cow, which had been laced with poison, presumably to kill stray dogs. The vultures fed on this single carcass and died. Tragically, killing the vultures may not have been the intended outcome. With the world’s last few Gyps vultures struggling for survival, breeding colonies– areas where vultures are known to roost and raise hatchlings–are precious. Disturbance, poisoning, or presence of diclofenac, the drug fatal to vultures, deals a staggering blow to the populations.
Of the 55 counted vultures, 22 were critically endangered White-backed Vultures. Four were critically endangered Slender-billed Vulture, and rest were the vulnerable Himalayan Griffon Vulture.
Vultures are dangerously close to extinction. Breeding sites are the last bastions for them, and here, battles are mounted to avoid poison entering their food chain. Vultures die immediately after consuming diclofenac, a banned veterinary drug; despite being banned, diclofenac is still being used, at the cost of the Gyps vultures. And like any other animal, vultures will also die if fed other poisonous chemicals.
This episode also shows us how a single carcass, poisonous for vultures, can kill so many of them. As vultures are community feeders, they eat together. And this is not the first time that vultures have died en-masse, after innocuously feeding on poisoned carcasses. Carcasses are poisoned because people want to illegally poison a tiger or leopard, because they want to eliminate dogs, or because they treat their cattle with banned diclofenac. Diclofenac is a pain-killer, not even a life-saver for the cattle. In so many ways, vultures are dying.
Is this their Last Supper?
Photo below: Always a fighter: acclaimed artist Raja Ravi Varma’s depiction of Jatayu vulture defending Sita
IndiEnvironment 
So sad, nothing to say about the happening.
LikeLike
Yes, Mr Sahoo, the world seems too cruel for our ancient vultures!
LikeLike
This is just terrible
LikeLike
Very dangerous. We always promote safe food zone. still have the same condition of mortality in jorbeer Bikaner
LikeLiked by 1 person
For a bird already on the verge of extinction this is a mortal blow. Will the vulture population recover from such large scale deaths ?
LikeLike
Rudolph, there is no chance that they will recover unless we intervene. That’s the critical stage they are in.
LikeLike
this is an example of human selfishness.
LikeLike
Very sad. Population of vultures every where is declining.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on listmonger.
LikeLike
Cruelty to birds/animals are increasing day by day and such hippocrates go unpunished. Better and stable law should be amended to avoid killings in the name of stray dogs which is just a excuse for the guilty. Hope better sense prevails in such humans.
Aspi K. Rao
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poisoned carrion, not more vultures, more food for stray dogs, more stray dogs, more outbreaks of rabies, more bites of people by rabid dogs, most deaths from rabies. God job, the eventual mortal victims of this poisoned carrion could be the sons of the guy who did it. Crazy world.
LikeLike
Agree! We don’t give natural processes their due. Vultures are looked at as pests rather than being valued for the free disposal service they carry out! Fact: no other scavenger is as efficient. Also, Agan you may enjoy this: vultures with go-pros in Lima! http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jan/29/drowning-rubbish-lima-vultures-gopro-video-cameras
LikeLike
¡Cuánta estupidez!, pero ya veremos cómo se las arreglarán cuando ningún buitre haya en la tierra para cumplir con tan vital e inigualble labor. Entonces llorarán de impotencia porque no podrán hacer nada.
LikeLike
Hi I qam a conservationist from Mumbai and would like to use your image on a youtube video on Vulture conservation. Please let me know if OK.
Warm Regards
LikeLike
Hi, it is not my image. You could credit it as file photo.
LikeLike