India’s Bird Population Declines Significantly, Vultures Hit Hardest

October 12, 2024

India has seen a worrying decline in its bird population over recent decades, especially between 1992 and 2002, when some species, like vultures, faced severe reductions. The Living Planet Report 2024 draws attention to this issue, making India the only country to have a specific section on its bird crisis in the report.

Vulture Population Decline

Vultures in India have experienced an alarming drop in numbers:

The White-rumped Vulture population fell by 98%.
The Indian Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture populations decreased by 93%.

These vultures, which play an important role in the ecosystem as scavengers, have been declining rapidly due to several threats.

What are the Main Causes of Vulture Decline?

The report lists several reasons why vulture numbers have dropped so drastically:

Pharmaceutical Impact: The use of certain drugs in livestock has been highly damaging to vultures. Medications like diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen, and nimesulide, used to treat animals, remain in their bodies after they die. When vultures eat the carcasses, they get poisoned. Last year, India banned aceclofenac and ketoprofen to protect vultures.

Carcass Poisoning: In some areas, livestock carcasses are intentionally poisoned to kill predators like wolves. Unfortunately, this also harms scavengers like vultures that feed on the same carcasses.

Electrocution: Vultures are accidentally electrocuted when they come into contact with high-voltage electric wires.

Habitat Loss: Vultures depend on open areas like grasslands and farmlands. As these habitats are destroyed or transformed, vultures lose their natural homes.

Impact on Insects

In addition to birds, the report also raises concerns about the decline of insects:

33% decline in grassland butterfly species across 22 countries over the past 20 years.
In Odisha, native bee populations have dropped by 80% since 2002.

There is also a lack of comprehensive data on other important pollinators, like bees and butterflies, making it harder to fully understand the extent of biodiversity loss.

Positive News for Tiger Populations

While birds and insects are facing serious challenges, there is some good news. India’s tiger population has grown. According to the 2022 All-India Tiger Estimation, the number of tigers has increased from 3,682 to 3,925, especially in central India and the Shivalik Hills.

Urbanization and its Effect on Biodiversity

The report also warns about the impact of urbanization on India’s ecosystems. For example, in Chennai, rapid urban expansion between 1988 and 2019 caused a significant loss of wetlands. This has reduced the city’s ability to naturally store water, making it more vulnerable to climate change effects, like droughts and floods.

India is facing a serious biodiversity crisis, especially with the decline in bird species, including vultures. The loss of insect populations and the destruction of natural habitats add to the growing environmental challenges. Conservation efforts are urgently needed to protect India’s wildlife and prevent further ecological damage.

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