Vultures were once a common sight in India, soaring over vast landscapes and feasting on cattle carcasses scattered across sprawling landfills.
Vultures played a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance by efficiently disposing of dead animals. Their presence was so pervasive that they even posed a threat to aviation, occasionally being sucked into jet engines during takeoff.
However, this once-thriving vulture population faced a catastrophic decline more than two decades ago due to an unforeseen threat: a drug used to treat sick cows.
By the mid-1990s, the vulture population, once numbering around 50 million, had dwindled to near extinction. The cause was diclofenac, a cheap and widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administered to cattle. While the drug effectively relieved pain in livestock, it proved deadly for vultures. When vultures fed on the carcasses of animals treated with diclofenac, they suffered from acute kidney failure, leading to their rapid demise.
The impact was devastating. By the early 2000s, the populations of three key vulture species—the white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and red-headed vulture—had plummeted by 98%, 95%, and 91%, respectively. Even though India banned the veterinary use of diclofenac in 2006, the damage had been done, and the recovery of these species has been slow and uncertain.
According to the latest State of India’s Birds report, these species continue to face significant threats, and their populations remain dangerously low.
The disappearance of vultures had far-reaching consequences beyond the loss of biodiversity. A new peer-reviewed study published in the American Economic Association journal reveals the grave human cost of this ecological disaster.
“Vultures are considered nature’s sanitation service because of the important role they play in removing dead animals that contain bacteria and pathogens from our environment – without them, disease can spread,” says the study’s co-author, Eyal Frank, an assistant professor at University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.
“Understanding the role vultures play in human health underscores the importance of protecting wildlife, and not just the cute and cuddly. They all have a job to do in our ecosystems that impacts our lives.”
The study, conducted by Mr. Frank and his co-author Anant Sudarshan, found that the absence of vultures led to a dramatic increase in human mortality rates. By comparing districts in India that historically had high vulture populations with those that did not, the researchers uncovered a more than 4% rise in human death rates in areas where vultures once thrived.
The study attributes this increase in mortality to the spread of disease and bacteria that vultures would have otherwise controlled. Vultures, being efficient scavengers, played a vital role in consuming rotting carcasses, thus preventing the spread of deadly pathogens. Without them, the number of stray dogs, which are less effective at cleaning up carcasses, surged. This led to a rise in rabies cases among humans, as well as the contamination of water sources with harmful bacteria.
During the period from 2000 to 2005, the loss of vultures is estimated to have caused around 100,000 additional human deaths annually, with economic costs exceeding $69 billion per year.
The decline of vultures in India represents one of the fastest recorded declines of a bird species, rivalled only by the extinction of the passenger pigeon in the United States. This loss has not only disrupted the natural environment but also highlighted the intricate connections between wildlife and human health.
The continued presence of veterinary drugs like diclofenac, the dwindling availability of carcasses due to increased burial practices, and competition from feral dogs further threaten the survival of these essential scavengers.
Despite the grim situation, there are glimmers of hope. In recent years, conservation efforts have intensified. Last year, 20 vultures bred in captivity and equipped with satellite tags were released in a tiger reserve in West Bengal, marking a significant step toward vulture recovery. Additionally, a recent survey in southern India recorded more than 300 vultures, indicating potential signs of a slow recovery.
However, experts stress that much more needs to be done to ensure the survival and resurgence of these vital birds. Protecting vulture habitats, enforcing bans on harmful drugs, and continuing breeding and release programs are essential steps to restore balance to India’s ecosystems and safeguard public health.
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