Vulture numbers in India are stable, says study
The
dramatic decline in vulture population prompted the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to put vultures on its list of
'critically endangered' species.
MUMBAI: After years of relentless efforts to save the vultures
in South Asia, there is encouraging news. According to a new research
paper published in the science journal - PLoS ONE - there are first
signs of recovery for Asia's critically endangered vultures. Recent
surveys show that vulture numbers have stabilized across India and
Nepal. BNHS, UK-based Royal Society for Protection of Birds
(RSPB), the Central and State Governments in India and several other
organizations under the consortium Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) have been working for years to conserve the three critically endangered vulture species.
The latest surveys show that in India and Nepal the numbers of the three critically endangered vulture species have remained stable in the last couple of years. Prior to the ban on veterinary diclofenac the vulture population was decreasing at a rate of up to 40% a year.
Commenting on the positive development, Dr Vibhu Prakash, the lead author of the study and Deputy Director, BNHS said, "The stabilization of vulture numbers across India for all the three critically endangered species is the first sign that the government's ban on veterinary diclofenac is having its desired impact. Continued efforts are still required to protect the remaining small populations, including stopping the illegal use of human diclofenac in the veterinary sector."
The latest surveys show that in India and Nepal the numbers of the three critically endangered vulture species have remained stable in the last couple of years. Prior to the ban on veterinary diclofenac the vulture population was decreasing at a rate of up to 40% a year.
Commenting on the positive development, Dr Vibhu Prakash, the lead author of the study and Deputy Director, BNHS said, "The stabilization of vulture numbers across India for all the three critically endangered species is the first sign that the government's ban on veterinary diclofenac is having its desired impact. Continued efforts are still required to protect the remaining small populations, including stopping the illegal use of human diclofenac in the veterinary sector."
No comments:
Post a Comment