From Opus

Photo by Jugal Tiwari

Conservation Status

This species is becoming extremely rare. The rapid decline is thought to be due to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac, which is used in southern Asia as a livestock treatment. It is extremely toxic to vultures when they feed on the carcasses of treated cattle. The drug causes fatal kidney failure. Populations of White-rumped Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture have also declined by more than 90 percent in the years from 1992 and 2000. On the basis of their catastrophic declines, the IUCN-World Conservation Union has listed these species as critically endangered: the highest level of threat.

Distribution

Formerly common and widespread in the Indian Subcontinent, from southeast Pakistan over much of India. Now very rare and local. Range poorly documented owing to widespread confusion with Slender-billed Vulture.

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