Indian vulture tragedy higlighted on Wildlife Extra website

[Guest guest]

25 Himalayan Griffon vultures killed by a train09/02/2010 23:20:30 *Courtesy

of Azam Siddiqui*

 

February 2010. 25 Vultures (Gyps himalayensis) that were feeding on a cattle

carcass on a railway track were killed by a train some 45 kilometres from

Guwahati city in Assam.

 

Apparently the railway authorities did not report this incident until 4 days

later. The Forest department immediately sent some staff to the site where

they found 2 of the birds still alive, but seriously injured. They are now

being treated at a nearby vetinerary centre. If the incident had been

reported immediately, it is possible that many more vultures could have

survived.

*Vulture population crash due to Diclofenac*

Population of all three Gyps vultures found in Asia decreased by about 95%

within as little as three years in the 1990s, across parts of their home

range in south Asia (source: Birdlife International). Once commonly-used as

a livestock analgesic/anti-inflammatory drug, ‘Diclofenac' was identified as

one of the main causes. Use of ‘Diclofenac' is now banned in India. However,

because of higher costs of the safer alternative ‘Meloxicam' and lack of

awareness among users, Diclofenac continues to be used.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/vultures-train.html