2002 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 103-112
In 1999 and 2000 a general decline in the vulture population has been observed in India. In the Keoladeo National Park, a more than 95% decline in the populations of Gyps species has been reported. The decline, attributed to pesticide contamination, disease, poisoning, and lack of food, has resulted in a widespread debate in the Indian scientific community including ornithologists, amateur birdwatchers, toxicologists, veterinarians, and environmentalists. After almost two years since the issue was first widely published in a leading environmental fortnightly publication, Down to Earth, (Anonymous 1999), the vulture situation is still far from clear. Though the exact causes of vulture decline are yet to be established, the whole issue has more importantly highlighted two aspects: a) the problems for bird conservation in India, particularly of those species that inhabit and use the agro-urban landscape, and b) the need for a means of addressing important issues such as this one. Many species in India, including vultures, need special attention. An ad hoc approach to conservation, combined with inadequate conservation action, has allowed the status of more species to decline to that of threatened taxa. There is an urgent need to initiate an integrated bird-monitoring programme involving major bird organisations, wildlife organisations, and individuals. Such a programme would routinely monitor populations of certain key and common avian species, particularly in the agro-urban environment. The database information developed by such a programme would then be available for use in developing risk assessment models that will be critical for the long-term protection of some species, and for urgent short-term mitigatory measures that may be needed from time to time. Reliable scientific data are vital to address many current conservation problems and to develop long-term strategies for bird conservation in India.
