Saving the vultures of Tamil Nadu
- Category
Science & Technology
- Published
28th Oct, 2022
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Context
The Tamil Nadu government has formed a State Vulture conservation committee (SLVC) to check the declining population of vultures in the state.
About
About Vultures
Tamil Nadu is home to four species of vultures:
- White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)- Critically Endangered
- Long-billed vultures (Gyps indicus)- Critically Endangered
- Asian king-vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)-Critically Endangered
- Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)-Endangered
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- Vultures are scavenging birds of prey. They are nature's most efficient scavengers.
- India shelters about nine species of vultures, but most of them face the danger of extinction.
Vulture numbers are decreasing:
- The numbers are still extremely low, and even a single poisoning eventcould lead to several of the species going locally extinct, especially the long-billed Asian king vulture.
- Breeding seasons have also seen less hatching than is the norm.
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)to treat cattle, such as diclofenac, nimesulide, and ketoprofen among others, have led to the crash in vulture populations across India.