I am an American evolutionary biologist, based at Rutgers University, where I specialize in biodiversity, evolution, and genomics. Drop me a note, here. Thanks for your readership and support.
Vultures have been held in twisted fascination throughout history. Their association with death may be a practical necessity for them, but the human world has always sought a more mystical connection—making these birds the bridge between the realms of the living and the dead.So it is with the vulture, whose association with death and decay meant that its own dwindling numbers attracted little attention—until an alarming number of human lives were lost.
Once described as the most populous raptor in the subcontinent, the white-rumped vulture was declared critically endangered in 2000. Today, the combined population of the Indian subcontinent’s three most affected vulture species hovers around a mere 20,000.The mystery of the vulture’s decline perplexed scientists for years. Speculations ranged from pesticide bioaccumulation to habitat destruction. However, the rapidity and scale of the decline suggested a more pervasive threat.
In the decade following the vulture decline, rabies cases skyrocketed, with an estimated 47,300 human deaths attributed to dog bites between 1992 and 2006. Rabies vaccine sales and dog bite reports surged, reflecting the grim toll on public health.estimate that the loss of vultures caused over 100,000 additional human deaths annually between 2000 and 2005. This staggering toll, combined with the economic costs of disease outbreaks, was estimated at $70 billion per year.
Yet, challenges persist. Other toxic NSAIDs remain unregulated, and habitat destruction continues to threaten nesting sites. Vulture populations are stabilizing but remain precariously low.
India Vultures Vultures Diclofenac Long-Billed Vulture Slender-Billed Vulture Cow Carcass Diclofenac Vulture Deaths India Vulture Endangered Scott Travers
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