Lok Sabha Question No. 2327 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Species of Vulture
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sukanta Majumdar, Bhola Singh, Raja Amareshwara Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2327

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## Species Of Vulture

## 2327.   SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government keeps the record of species of Vultures found in India and if so, whether their number has sharply declined since 1990s;
- (b) if so, the reasons for decline and species which have decreased most along with the Government's reaction thereto;
- (c) whether  white  backed,  long  billed  and  slender  billed  species  are  facing  existential crisis due to rapid rate of decline;
- (d) if so, the details thereof including the action taken thereon including reasons for the rapid decline; and
- (e) the  other  corrective  steps  taken  by  Government  to  save  and  conserve  them  in  the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) and (b) Nine species  of  vultures  are  recorded  from  India.  They  are  Oriental  White-), Gyps Vulture ),  Bearded

backed  Vulture  ( Gyps  bengalensis ),  Long-billed  Vulture  ( Gyps  indicus Slender-billed Vulture ( Gyps tenuirostris ), Himalayan Vulture ( himalayensis ), Eurasian Griffon ( Gyps fulvus ), Red-headed ( Sarcogyps  calvus ),  Egyptian  Vulture  ( Neophron  percnopterus Vulture ( Gypaetus barbatus ) and Cinereous Vulture ( Aegypius calvus ).

As per information available in the Ministry, the population of three species of Vultures, viz., Gyps indicus , Gyps bengalensis and Gyps tenuirostris ,  had drastically declined during the 1990s. The major cause of mortality of vultures was found to be the veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug 'Diclofenac', given to cattle in pain and inflammation. However, due to the concerted efforts by the Government, the population of these vulture species has stabilized now. The population estimation of other species of Vultures is not collated in the Ministry.

- (c), (d) and (e) Oriental  White-backed  Vulture,  Long-billed  Vulture  and  Slender-billed Vulture are endangered and have been listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 according them the highest degree of protection.

The  important  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  save  the  vultures  and increase their number include:

- (i) All the species of Vultures have been listed in the Schedules of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- (ii) The vial size of the drug diclonofec has been restricted to 3ml to prevent its use in livestock.
- (iii) Safety testing of various veterinary non-steroidal antiinflammatory  drugs,  available  in  the  market  to  identify  their toxicity to vultures.
- (iv) Establishing vulture safe zones in different parts of the country for conservation of the remnant population of vultures.
- (v) Raising awareness especially among users of veterinary formulations.
- (vi) Ministry sponsored films 'The Last Flight' and 'Vanishing Vultures'  are  frequently  telecasted  on  radio  and  television  in order  to  raise  awareness  on  vulture  conservation.  States  have been  requested  to  develop  education  and  awareness  materials, keeping the Animal Husbandry sectors and farmers in mind.
- (vii) Eight Vulture Conservation Breeding Centers have been established in India.
- (viii) The  Indian  Veterinary  Research  Institute  (IVRI)  led  a  research study to identify a safe alternative to diclofenac by carrying out safety-testing  of  the  shortlisted  drug  meloxicam  on vultures,  in collaboration with BNHS  and  the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, an international bird conservation organization  based  in  the  United  Kingdom.  Meloxicam  was proved to be safe for vultures and was promoted as an alternative to diclofenac.
- (ix) India has launched an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2020-2025) on 9th November, 2020.
- (x) Government  of  India  provides  funding  support  to  the  States under  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme-  Development  of  Wildlife Habitats for conservation of Vultures under the Species Recovery Programme.

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