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Fall in vulture population a health risk to people
Hyderabad, Jan 24: It could be the biggest wave of animal extinctions since the dinosaurs disappeared ages ago. In India alone, the once abundant vulture population has declined by over 90% in the last 10 yrs.
Hyderabad, Jan 24: It could be the biggest wave of animal extinctions since the dinosaurs disappeared ages ago. In India alone, the once abundant vulture population has declined by over 90% in the last 10 yrs.
The world is in the midst of the biggest wave of animal extinctions since the dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years ago, says a report from Washington-based World Watch Institute. "This phenomenon is clearly reflected in the extinction of birds, which is now topping 50 times the natural rate of loss," the report said.
"Over the past 500 years 128 bird species have vanished and 103 of these have been lost since 1800".
These disappearances not only mark the loss of unique species but often reflect environmental degradation, the report said.
Citing the situation in India it said the once abundant long-billed and white-rumped vulture populations have declined by more than 90 per cent in the last decade most likely due to a virus.
"A decade ago the birds swarmed over abundant cow carcases that litter fields and dumps around Indian cities and towns," it said. "In their sudden absence, dog, crow, and rat populations have exploded taking up the slack in scavengers and posing great health risks to people nearby."
According to the report an array of phenomena such as habitat loss, manmade disasters, disease, hunting, pesticides, power lines, skyscrapers and temperature change "accelerates the endangerment and extinction of bird species". Bureau Report
The world is in the midst of the biggest wave of animal extinctions since the dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years ago, says a report from Washington-based World Watch Institute. "This phenomenon is clearly reflected in the extinction of birds, which is now topping 50 times the natural rate of loss," the report said.
"Over the past 500 years 128 bird species have vanished and 103 of these have been lost since 1800".
These disappearances not only mark the loss of unique species but often reflect environmental degradation, the report said.
Citing the situation in India it said the once abundant long-billed and white-rumped vulture populations have declined by more than 90 per cent in the last decade most likely due to a virus.
"A decade ago the birds swarmed over abundant cow carcases that litter fields and dumps around Indian cities and towns," it said. "In their sudden absence, dog, crow, and rat populations have exploded taking up the slack in scavengers and posing great health risks to people nearby."
According to the report an array of phenomena such as habitat loss, manmade disasters, disease, hunting, pesticides, power lines, skyscrapers and temperature change "accelerates the endangerment and extinction of bird species". Bureau Report