Vulture Breeding Programme

Semester 4
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Department of Commerce

Gitan Chopra 22/0499

Harshita Yadav 22/205
Mannat Kaur Johar 22/0269
Priyal Vishal 22/0366
Sakshi Gautam 22/0627
Sujitha K 22/0526
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Introduction: Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme

The Vulture Conservation Breeding Program, a flagship initiative of the Central Zoo Authority, was
established in response to a key recommendation outlined in the Government of India's 2006 Action Plan
for Vulture Conservation. This plan aimed to create a Conservation Breeding Program as a safeguard
against the extinction of vultures. Specifically targeting the three Gyps species of vultures—White-rumped
(Gyps bengalensis), Long-billed (Gyps indicus), and Slender-billed (Gyps tenuirostris)—the program began
with the establishment of the first Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore, Haryana. Subsequently, seven
additional centers were set up across different states.

Species & Population Trajectory

Nine species of vultures are recorded from India of which five belong to the genus Gyps. Three Gyps
vultures, namely the White-backed, Long-billed and Slender-billed vultures are resident, and the remaining
two, the Eurasian Griffon Gypsfu/vus and Himalayan Griffon Gyps himo/oyensis are largely wintering
species.
The resident Gyps vulture population in the Indian subcontinent plummeted during the 1990s, with
White-backed vultures declining by 99.9% and Long-billed/Slender-billed vultures collectively dropping by
96.8% between 1992 and 2007.

Causes of Decline
The main cause of the drastic decline in vulture populations in India from 1993 to 2007 was diclofenac, a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administered to cattle. This drug, consumed by vultures when
feeding on treated carcasses, led to kidney failure and extensive visceral gout, resulting in rapid mortality.
Other contributing factors to vulture decline include habitat loss, low food availability, infectious diseases,
environmental contaminants, and interference from traffic and other animals.
These combined stressors have further exacerbated the already vulnerable vulture populations,
emphasizing the need for comprehensive conservation efforts.

Why does their survival matter?

Vultures are often overlooked and perceived as lowly scavengers, but they play a crucial role in the
environments in which they live.
● Carcass Cleanup: Vultures are scavenging birds that feed on dead animals. They are nature’s most
efficient scavengers and help in decomposing the dead animal matter that could otherwise attract
pests and pathogens.
● Reduce Disease Spread: Vultures halt disease spread by consuming infected carcasses, their
stomach acids kill pathogens, crucially safeguarding human health from anthrax, cholera, and
rabies, unlike less efficient scavengers like rats and feral dogs, which become disease carriers.
● Ecological Balance: Vultures maintain ecological balance by preventing the buildup of rotting
carcasses, which could disrupt nutrient cycling and ecosystem dynamics. As keystone species, they
play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
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● Cultural Significance: Vultures have cultural significance in Hinduism and the Parsi community,
being essential to practices like sky burials and traditional funerary customs.
● Economic Value: Vultures contribute to local economies through ecotourism, particularly in
regions near Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India.

Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre : Mission, Vision and Objectives

The Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC), a collaboration between Haryana Forest Department
and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), aims to save White-backed, Long-billed, and
Slender-billed vultures from extinction. Established in September 2001 with the UK Government’s Darwin
Initiative, it investigates vulture declines. Originally named Vulture Care Centre (VCC), it was set up in
Pinjore, Haryana, in 2004 to study vulture deaths. There are currently nine VCBCs in India, three managed
by BNHS, focused on breeding and releasing vultures into the wild. Adapted from the South Asia Vulture
Recovery Plan in February 2004, the VCC became the first VCBC, housing 160 vultures, the largest
collection of critically endangered Gyps species worldwide.

IUCN and Vulture Conservation Centres

The IUCN plays a vital role in vulture conservation through its Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the
dedicated Vulture Specialist Group (VSG). Here's how:
● Raising awareness: The VSG works to educate the public and policymakers about the critical role
vultures play in the ecosystem and the threats they face.
● Coordinating action: The VSG unites researchers, conservationists, and vulture enthusiasts
worldwide.
● Advocacy: The VSG lobbies for policies that benefit vultures involving advocating for restrictions on
harmful drugs like diclofenac, a major threat to vulture populations in Asia.
● Supporting research: The VSG plays a role in supporting research on vulture populations, their
ecological roles, and the threats they face.
India has several vulture conservation centers that cater to the steep decline in vulture populations,
including:
● Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS):
Situated at Pinjore, Haryana this center aims at breeding critically endangered species of vultures
for eventual release into the wild.
● Rajasthan Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre: The facility based in Jodhpur, Rajasthan is
dedicated to breeding and conserving the state’s population of vultures.
● Pinjore Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre: Another such center located in Pinjore,
Haryana which is run by Haryana forest department in collaboration with BNHS.
● Raptor Conservation and Research Centre Assam: This centre located in Assam carries out
research, rehabilitation and awareness programmes on various raptor species including vultures.
Progress of these centres varies but they have made significant strides towards attaining this goal. Some
efforts include: successful breeding programs producing chicks; research on alternative drugs to
diclofenac; establishment of vulture-safe areas; as well as education projects for community members.