Geetika Rani

 How many of us are actually aware of the rapid extinction of the most efficient scavenger, Vultures? Not many. But for those who are aware, they are also completely oblivious of the consequences of extermination of Vultures,  who play a vital role in the conservation of the food chain.

    This is an extremely serious and grave issue recently rose by the eminent filmmaker Mike

  Pandey   through screening of a documentary film ‘The Vanishing Vultures” at the British Council Theatre.

    The film threw light on the  importance of the

critically endangered species, causes behind their extinction, and steps taken to save them.

      Ten years ago,  India had the highest number of Vultures in the  world, but today a staggering 99% of  the species has disappeared.

 The annual mortality rate among Vultures is 50%.In 2003, scientists discovered that the use of Diclofenac, which is used as a pain reliever for cattle, was responsible for this rapid decimation of vultures. If an animal under treatment dies and the carcass is eaten by a vulture, the Diclofenac in the animal affects the Vulture’s kidneys making it unable to excrete uric acid the Vulture suffer from visceral gout and dies.

    Vulture primarily a slow breeding and long living bird plays a significant role in the  balancing and  harmony of nature. An absence of Vultures will lead to  lakhs of decaying  and putrefying

     carcasses which will litter out surroundings, creating a breeding ground of thousands of unknown strains of viruses and diseases and lethal bacteria.

     Mike H Pandey, the three time green Oscar winner said. “The resilient and powerful scavengers are disappearing even faster than the already extinct dodo, major steps are need before they are gone forever.”