Surfbirds News

The decline of the three vultures is thought to be the most rapid decline of any species of bird, even surpassing the rate of decline of the dodo, before its extinction.

The three vultures are already regionally extinct in several parts of southern Asia, and BirdLife International, represented in the UK by the RSPB, says that without further action from other countries where the birds occur, further extinctions are inevitable in the near future.

Griffon Vulture, Cyprus, Agios Joannis April 2004 © Daniele Occhiato

A recent statement issued by the Indian government confirmed the intent to phase out the veterinary use of diclofenac within six months. Diclofenac, which is used in southern Asia as a livestock treatment, is toxic to vultures when the birds feed on the carcasses of treated cattle. The drug causes kidney failure leading to rapid mortality.

Chris Bowden, the RSPB’s vulture-programme manager, said: "The Indian government is to be congratulated on taking this huge step that we have working towards ever since the discovery that diclofenac was such an acute problem.

"The decline of vultures in southern Asia is one of the most troubling declines of any group of birds in the world. We recognise the boldness of the Indian government in phasing out the veterinary use of this drug, but without futher action the three species of vulture are still in severe trouble."

Asad Rahmani, director of Bombay Natural History Society, the RSPB’s partner in India, said: "In taking the decision to phase out diclofenac, our Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh has taken the most important step yet to save these fast-disappearing species of vultures. I request the governments of neighbouring countries to ban this drug from veterinary use.

"However, the battle to save the vultures is not yet over. We have to develop conservation breeding centres as a further safe-guard to save these magnificent lords of the sky."

Dr Debbie Pain, head of international research at the RSPB, added: "We recognise the need for an alternative livestock treatment to be found as soon as possible. Initial trials conducted in South Africa have revealed hope that a drug already available on the Indian market may well be a viable alternative to diclofenac and of comparatively low toxicity to vultures."

Notes:
1) Populations of three vultures species have declined at an unprecedented rate in South Asia. In India, declines were first noted by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) who have been monitoring populations ever since. Populations of the white-rumped vulture, long-billed vulture and slender-billed vulture, declined by more than 90% between 1992 and 2000. On the basis of their catastrophic declines, the IUCN has listed these species as critically endangered: the highest level of threat. Declines have continued, and Indian national surveys carried out between 2000 and 2003 indicate annual decline rates of 22% for the long-billed vulture and 48% for the white backed vulture. Should these decline rates continue, these species are heading for rapid extinction in India.

2) There is concern that even with a ban in six months, stock piles of diclofenac will be used for considerably longer. With current rates of population decline (almost a halving every year), it remains essential that vultures are brought into captivity as rapidly as possible to establish conservation breeding populations. Birds should them be released back into the wild when vulture populations are breeding and the environment is effectively free from diclofenac

3) In early 2004, The US based Peregrine Fund working in Pakistan found that a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), diclofenac, was responsible for declines in white-rumped vultures in Pakistan.

4) Work by the BNHS, RSPB, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and others extended this work to show diclofenac as the major cause of declines in the vulture declines right across South Asia.

5) At a board meeting of the Indian government-affiliated National Board for Wildlife on 17th March, a decision was taken to phase out the use of diclofenac for veterinary use within the next 6 months. The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, endorsed the board’s recommendation.

6) Since diclofenac was identified as the cause of population declines, the RSPB has been working closely with the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and others to identify potential alternatives to diclofenac, that would be relatively safe to vultures. A possible alternative has been identified and safety testing is currently underway. Whilst not yet conclusive, results so far are very promising and trials will be completed this summer.