Lok Sabha Question No. 3699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Decline in Vulture Population
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Rani Srikumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3699

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## Decline in Vulture Population

## 3699.  DR. RANI SRIKUMAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the significant decline in vulture populations in the country, particularly due to the use of veterinary medicines such as diclofenac;
- (b) if so, the specific data on vulture population trends in Tamil Nadu over the past decades and any provisions for the creation of safe zones;
- (c) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  monitor  and  regulate  the  use  of  harmful veterinary drugs that adversely affect vulture populations; and;
- (d) the details  of any  public awareness campaigns initiated to educate veterinarians and livestock owners about the impact of certain veterinary medicines on vultures and the promotion of safe alternatives?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (d) As per information available in the Ministry, the population of three species of vultures, namely Gyps indicus, Gyps bengalensis and Gyps tenuirostris, declined drastically during the 1990s. Protection and management of wildlife is primarily the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations. Population estimation of vultures is done in different States at different times. Population estimates of Vultures in the country are not collated at the level of the Ministry.

The important steps taken to save vultures include the following:

- (i) All  the  nine  species  of  vultures  found  in  India  are  listed  in  the Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby providing them with the highest degree of protection.
- (ii) In August 2006, the Drugs Controller General of India banned the use, sale and manufacture of Diclofenac veterinary use.
- (iii) The vial size of the Diclofenac for human use has been restricted to 3 ml to prevent its misuse in treating livestock.
- (iv) The Government of India has restricted the packaging of multi-dose vial of Diclofenac to single dose for human use in July, 2015.
- (v) The Government of India has prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of Ketoprofen and Aceclofenac and their formulations for veterinary use in July, 2023.
- (vi) The Government of India has prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution  of  Nimesulide  and  its  formulation  for  animal  use  in December, 2024.
- (vii) Over-counter sale of veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without prescription are prohibited.
- (viii) An  Action  Plan  for  Vulture  Conservation  was  launched  by  the Ministry in November, 2020.
- (ix) The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  under  the  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  -Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats which includes 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' and 'Project Tiger and Elephant' which aims at conservation and protection of wildlife and improvement of habitat including vultures.
- (x) Vultures have been identified as one of the 22 species for providing funding  support  to  the  States/Union  Territories  under  the  Species Recovery Programme component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Development of Wildlife habitats for their conservation of vultures.
- (xi) Eight Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres have been set up across India.

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