Context: The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) researchers have recorded the first instance of successful captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati. “Except France, nowhere has this species been bred in captivity.

• It is the second instance (First was in France) in the world and first in India where this species has been kept for breeding.

• The captive breeding was a joint project undertaken by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Assam forest department.

Himalayan Vulture

• The Himalayan vulture is the largest bird species native to India.

• Scientific name: Gyps himalayensis

Features

• It is sandy brown in color and has a pale, featherless head.

• It is seen in large groups and as single birds.

• Broad wings and short dark feathers.

• White neck ruff and yellow bill

Habitat

• Himalayan countries - India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, China

• Central Asian mountains - Kazakhstan, Afghanistan

• Migration: It is a common migrant to the Indian plains during the winters.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

• CITES: Appendix II

• WPA, 1972: Schedule IV

Threats

• Poisoning: Kidney failure induced by diclofenac and other toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is a major cause of the death of vulture species

• Electrocution: Vulture deaths have been reported due to contact with high-tension power distribution lines.

• Persecution: They have been persecuted by many communities as they are natural scavengers. This has led to their deaths due to deliberate poisoning or hunting.

• Forest Fires: Forest fires have destroyed the traditional nesting sites of these vultures leading to reduction in vulture populations.

Captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture

• The Himalayan vultures that were successfully bred were rescued in 2011-2012 from accidents and poisonings.

• The hatchling which was born in captivity was observed on March 14, 2022, and shifted to the artificial brooding facility on 15 March.

• During the first month, it was kept in a plastic box-based brooder with a mat for the grip.

• The temperature was maintained around 30-35°C and provided with a lamp, a water bowl, and a thermo-hygrometer for continuous monitoring.

• Although the vulture usually breeds in snow environments, it had acclimatized to the tropical environment of the zoo over its long stay there, which allowed it to breed successfully.

• India became the second country to successfully complete the captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture after France.

• The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has previously bred three other vulture species—the white-rumped vulture, the Indian vulture, and the slender-billed vulture—in captivity for conservation and reintroduction purposes.

Other vulture species in India

• India is home to 8 other species of vulture - Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous, and the Eurasian Griffon.

• The Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, and Oriental white-backed are protected under Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 while the remaining are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.

Recent Central decision

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare banned the manufacture, sale, and distribution of ketoprofen and aceclofenac and their formulations for animal use under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 40) in July 2023.

• Aceclofenac immediately converts into diclofenac in animals and remains in the body for longer periods.

• Ketoprofen, which is an anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain, inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain, was found to be poisonous to the Himalayan vulture.

Vulture Action Plan

• The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched the Vulture Action Plan 2020-25 for the conservation of vultures in India.

• The MoEFCC launched the Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2006 with the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and banned the veterinary use of diclofenac in the same year.

• It incorporated the Vulture Recovery Plan (2004) which recommended banning the veterinary use of diclofenac, finding its substitute, and setting up conservation breeding centers for vultures.

Objectives

Drug control

• Ensure minimum use of Diclofenac and prevent the poisoning of cattle carcasses, which are the major food of vultures, with veterinary NSAIDs, by ensuring regulated and prescription-based sale of veterinary NSAIDs.

• Carry out safety testing of available NSAIDs on vultures and develop new ones which do not affect vultures.

• Ensure that DGCI must institute a system that automatically removes a drug from veterinary use if it is found to be toxic to vultures.

Upscaling conservation

• Establish Additional Conservation Breeding Centres and Vulture Conservation Centres

• Implement the Vulture Safe Zone programme

• Launch conservation and breeding plans for the Red-headed and Egyptian vultures.

• Declare a Vulture Safe Zone only when no toxic drugs are found in undercover pharmacy and cattle carcass surveys, for two consecutive years, and the vulture populations are stable and not declining.

• Build Four rescue centers spread across the country.

Other Efforts

• The Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme has been established by the CZA and BNHS.

• A Vulture Care Centre (VCC) was set up at Pinjore, Haryana in 2001 to study the cause of deaths of vultures in India.

• SAVE or Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction is a consortium of like-minded, regional, and international organizations that oversees and coordinates conservation, campaigning, and fundraising activities related to South Asian vultures.

Conclusion

• The successful captive breeding and the ban on aceclofenac and ketoprofen are game-changing initiatives for vulture conservation.

• However, the ban should be implemented efficiently and other NSAIDs like Nimesulide which are major threats to vultures must also be banned.

• Alongside introducing safer alternative drugs for vultures, similar steps should be taken to protect other raptor species in India.