New Delhi: With vultures facing threat in
different parts of the world, the government has launched an
exclusive programme for conserving these scavengers of nature
in India where nine species of the bird is found.
"India has nine species of vultures and for their
conservation we have initiated a recovery programme this
year," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said today on the
eve of World Vulture Conservation Day.
He said diclofenac drug has been banned for veterinary
purposes as vultures that consume the carcasses of animals put
on that medicine die of acute kidney failure.
The number of various species found in India,
particularly the Long Billed and Slender Billed, has declined
by 97 per cent since 1992, prompting the government to set up
breeding centres at Pinjore (Haryana), Buxa (Assam) and Raja
Bhat Khawa (West Bengal).
Captive breeding centres at four zoos at Bhopal,
Bhubaneswar, Junagarh and Hyderabad have also been set up.
It is estimated that only 1000 Slender Billed vultures
remain in the wild and their population is decreasing
dramatically every year.
"Birds can only be saved from extinction through banning
the retail sale of Diclofenac, promotion of the safe
alternative, Meloxicam, and the capture of more birds for the
breeding programme," Neeta Shah, working with the Bombay
Natural History Society for the bird`s protection said.
Bureau Report
