Vulture Conservation in India: Some Issues that Need Mass Support

Abstract

World's first vulture conservation breeding centre named Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore in Panchkula district of Haryana, India, is all set to release vultures bred in captivity in 2016. This is the outcome of hard work of about one and half decade of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Haryana Forest Department. Many mysteries of the life of the vultures which were secrets till now, have been revealed in JCBC, as vultures had never been studied in captivity before. However, there are a number of issues that need public support for saving vultures from extinction. The main issue is the superstition that the vultures are opportunists, blood thirsty and wait for somebody to die. Other issues include: creating mass awareness about role of vultures inmaintaining cleaniness, imposing self social ban on using diclofenac as non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) for veterinary use, giving second thought to use of aceclofenac as veterinary and human drug, protecting vultures from painkiller drugs like nimesulides, ketoprofen and ibubrofen, use of meloxicam as safe pain killer drug for veterinary purpose, ensuring safe vulture zones, habitat improvement and focusing vulture conservation breeding of all species of vultures ratherthan on Gyps species only.