Rising hope for Asia’s vultures?
Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction from The RSPB on Vimeo.
Vultures may not get a lot of love, or respect for that matter, from the public, but they play a vital role in cleaning up and recycling nature’s waste, which also helps prevent diseases from spreading. Vultures were once abundant throughout Asia, but that was until veterinary drug diclofenac became common. Used on cattle and livestock, researchers discovered in 2003 that the drug was toxic to vultures, killing any bird that consumed the deceased livestock. Within years populations plummeted, putting several once-abundant species on the Critically Endangered list.
Rapid response from conservationists, including innovative and unique programs, have provided hope that vultures species may still survive.