Depleting vulture population in Gujarat: Conversion committee formed

To protect and nurture the vulture population in Gujarat, and avoid disruption of the ecological system of the state, a Vulture Conservation Committee was formed on Thursday.

The newly formed committee includes 11 members, with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat serving as the chairmen. A representative from the Central Zoo Authority is also included.

There were 2,647 vultures in 2005 in Gujarat, which decreased to 1,431 in 2007, 1,095 in 2010, 1,043 in 2012, 999 in 2016, and 840 in 2018. According to the latest population survey, the number of White-rumped Vultures has decreased, but there has been a 27.4% increase in the Indian vulture population.

Many districts in the state have reported zero vultures. The vulture population is primarily found in Ahmedabad, Anand, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, and Kutch.

Several years ago, Gujarat had a very rich vulture population, but in the 1990s, there was a sharp decline of over 90% in vulture numbers across South Asia, including Gujarat. The primary reason for this decline was the widespread use of the drug Diclofenac, used for treating livestock, which is highly toxic to vultures. This drug severely affects species like the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps Bengalensis) and the Indian Vulture (Gyps Indicus).

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