White Rumped Vulture

White-rumped Vulture

The white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is an Old World vulture closely related to the European griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus).

The species was present in large numbers, in Southern and Southeastern Asia until the 1990's and declined rapidly in numbers since; up to 99.9% between 1992 and 2007.

The white-rumped vulture is a typical, medium-sized vulture, with an unfeathered head and neck, very broad wings, and short tail feathers.

These birds are usually inactive until the morning sun has warmed up the air with sufficient thermals to support their soaring. They circle and rise in altitude and join move off in a glide to change thermals.

The white-rumped vulture was originally very common especially in the Gangetic plains of India, and often seen nesting on the avenue trees within large cities in the region.

Currently, only the Cambodia and Burma populations are thought to be viable though those populations are still very small (low hundreds).

It has been suggested that Meloxicam (another NSAID) as a veterinary substitute that is harmless to vultures would help in the recovery. Campaigns to ban the use of diclofenac in veterinary practice have been underway in several South Asian countries