Nature’s Cleanup Crew: Why Protecting Vultures Matters

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Nature’s Cleanup Crew: Why Protecting Vultures Matters

Context:

Southern Africa’s vulture populations are rapidly declining due to human activities, yet their ecological and economic significance remains crucial. A recent BirdLife International report estimates their annual value in billions, highlighting the pressing need for conservation efforts.

 

Classification of Vultures

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Vertebrata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Accipitriformes
  • Family: Accipitridae & Cathartidae 

 

IUCN Status:

  • Critically Endangered: White-rumped vulture, Slender-billed vulture, Long-billed vulture, Red-headed vulture
  • Endangered: Egyptian vulture
  • Near Threatened: Himalayan Griffon, Cinereous vulture, Bearded vulture
  • Least Concern: Griffon vulture

 

Legal Protection

  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

 

Key Insights: 

  • Vultures provide essential services like sanitation and disease control, contributing an estimated $1.8 billion annually to the economy.
  • Their populations are in rapid decline, with seven of Africa’s eleven vulture species at risk due to poisoning (61% of deaths), belief-based use (29%), and electrocution (9%).
  • If their decline continues, economic losses could reach $47 million annually, but conservation efforts could generate benefits worth $30 million per year.
  • Mass poisoning events, like the 2019 Botswana incident that killed over 500 vultures, highlight the urgent need for conservation action.

 

The Economic and Ecological Role of Vultures

  • Vultures help keep ecosystems clean by consuming dead animals, preventing the spread of diseases like rabies and anthrax.
  • Their scavenging reduces harmful bacteria and minimises human and animal health risks.
  • By preventing disease outbreaks, vultures contribute to public health, livestock safety, and overall environmental stability.
  • They play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity by controlling scavenger populations and balancing ecosystems.
  • Vultures’ presence reduces the need for costly waste disposal methods, making them an essential part of natural waste management.

 

Conservation Initiatives in India

  • Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020-2025)
    • Vulture Conservation & Breeding Centers: Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.
    • Vulture Safe Zones: At least one per state.
    • Rescue Centers: Pinjore (Haryana), Bhopal (MP), Guwahati (Assam), Hyderabad (Telangana).
    • Ban on Toxic Drugs: Automatic removal of toxic veterinary drugs.
    • Nationwide Vulture Census: Conducted by forest departments, BNHS, and research institutes.
    • Threat Database: Monitors poisoning, electrocution, and collisions.

 

Recent Developments

  • Himalayan Vulture Captive Breeding (2024)
    • India’s First Captive Breeding at Guwahati Zoo by BNHS & Assam Forest Dept.
    • Importance: Conserves the genetic health of vultures.
    • Challenges: High-altitude species bred in lowland tropical climates.

 


 

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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH

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