Vulture population down from 4 cr to 4 lakh in 3 decades

NEW DELHI: The population of vultures, which are carrion-eaters and considered quite useful for ecosystem services such as scavenging, has declined sharply in India from four crore to less than four lakh in three decades, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday.

"In India, vultures died after consuming dead cattle, which were given 'diclofenac' drug, and their population reduced from four crore to less than four lakh. We are taking efforts to revive the population," said Javadekar while addressing a press conference on the upcoming 13th Conference of Parties (COP13) of the UN Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

'Diclofenac' is a veterinary drug used to treat cattle. It leads to death of vultures who feed on dead animals.

"Representatives from 130 countries, eminent conservationists and international NGOs working in the field of wildlife conservation will be attending COP13," said Javadekar, adding that the issue of decline in population of vultures would also be discussed.

Though wild life conservationists have long been demanding complete ban on 'diclofenac', it has not yet been banned across the country. The drug has only been banned in Tamil Nadu.

COP13 will be opened in Gandhinagar by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 17 through video-conference. The CMS is a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats and brings together the range countries through which migratory species pass.

The CMS COP-13, which has over 130 countries as participants, is a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats and brings together the states through which migratory species pass.

So far, 12 COPs (conference of parties) have been convened. The CMS COP 13 is an environmental treaty under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is going to be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. As the host, India shall be designated the president for the next three years.