Font size:
Print
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.
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more Valuable Content – TheStudyias
Download the App to Subscribe to our Courses – Thestudyias
The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
