Indian Vulture

 Indian Vulture

The long-billed vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald head, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It is smaller and less heavily built than the Eurasian Griffon, usually weighing between 5.5 and 6.3 kg (12–13.9 lbs) and measuring 80–103 cm (31–41 in) long and 1.96 to 2.38 m (6.4 to 7.8 ft) across the wings.

The species breeds mainly on cliffs, but is known to use trees to nest in Rajasthan. Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of deadanimals which it finds by soaring over savannah and around human habitation.

The Indian vulture and the white-rumped vulture, G. bengalensis species have suffered a 99%–97% population decrease inPakistan and India.

 Between 2000-2007 annual decline rates of this species and the slender-billed vulture averaged over sixteen percent. The cause of this has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drug diclofenac.

 Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and when given to working animals it can reduce joint pain and so keep them working for longer.

The drug is believed to be swallowed by vultures with the flesh of dead cattle who were given diclofenac in the last days of life.