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Saving the vultures of Tamil Nadu

Published: 28th Oct, 2022

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
  • 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.

Verifying, please be patient.

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