A vulture
conservation farm has been set up near village Gadad by the North Dangs Forest
Division. Village Gadad is located around 30 km from Ahwa on Ahwa-Chinchli road. The hilly
forest region surrounding Gadad has an altitude ranging from 2000 to 3500 feet and is a favorite spot for the Indian
Vulture, also known as Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus). A good number
of Long-billed Vultures are found in this region as the nests are built on the
mountains slopes, they are beyond the reach of humans and hence not destroyed
directly by them.
Characteristics of Indian Vulture |
Vulture Conservation Centre, Gadad, Dangs |
Indian Vulture at Gadad Farm, Dangs |
A Survey conducted
by the Bombay Natural History Society in 2007 revealed that vulture population
in India has declined by 97 percent in last few
years. Of the nine species of vultures found in India , the white-backed, the long-billed and the
slender-billed vultures are recognized as Critically Endangered species by the
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Moreover, they are
listed as Schedule I species in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
which is applicable to the tiger and one-horned rhino also.
The main cause of
decline has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drug
diclofenac. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and
when given to working animals it can reduce joint pain and keep them working
for longer. The drug is believed to be swallowed by the vultures with flash of
dead cattle which were given diclofenac in their last days. The drug reportedly
causes dehydration of the vultures and they die due to visceral gout and kidney
failure.
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