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Revision as of 21:54, 23 March 2011 editBhagyaMani (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers55,885 edits Undid revision 420190238 by Amurfalcon (talk)← Previous edit Revision as of 10:35, 31 May 2011 edit undo110.139.190.67 (talk) {{sfn|IUCN redlist}}Next edit →
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| status = CR | status = CR
| status_system = iucn3.1 | status_system = iucn3.1
| status_ref = {{sfn|IUCN redlist}}
| trend = down | trend = down
| image = Indian vulture on cliff.jpg | image = Indian vulture on cliff.jpg
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| phylum = ] | phylum = ]
| classis = ] | classis = ]
| ordo = ]<br>(or ], q.v.) | ordo = ]<br />(or ], q.v.)
| familia = ] | familia = ]
| genus = '']'' | genus = '']''
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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&nbsp;kg (12–13.9&nbsp;lbs) and measuring 80–100&nbsp;cm (32–40&nbsp;in) long and 205 to 229&nbsp;cm (81–91&nbsp;in) across the wings.<ref>http://www.peregrinefund.org/vulture_factsheet.asp#Long-billed%20Vulture,</ref> It is distinguished from that species by its less buff body and ]s. It also lacks the whitish median covert bar shown by Griffon. 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&nbsp;kg (12–13.9&nbsp;lbs) and measuring 80–100&nbsp;cm (32–40&nbsp;in) long and 205 to 229&nbsp;cm (81–91&nbsp;in) across the wings.<ref>http://www.peregrinefund.org/vulture_factsheet.asp#Long-billed%20Vulture,</ref> It is distinguished from that species by its less buff body and ]s. It also lacks the whitish median covert bar shown by Griffon.


==Population declines== == Population declines ==
] ]
The Indian Vulture and the ], ''G. bengalensis'' species have suffered a 99%–97% population decrease in ] and ]. The cause of this has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drug ]. Diclofenac is a ] (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 which were given diclofenac in the last days of life. Diclofenac causes kidney failure in several species of Vultures. In March 2005 the Indian Government announced its support for a ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac. Another NSAID, ], has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove to be an acceptable substitute for diclofenac. In March 2006 diclofenac was still being used for animals throughout India and the changes in Indian legislation are awaited. When meloxicam production is increased it is hoped that it will be as cheap as diclofenac. The Indian Vulture and the ], ''G. bengalensis'' species have suffered a 99%–97% population decrease in ] and ]. The cause of this has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drug ]. Diclofenac is a ] (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 which were given diclofenac in the last days of life. Diclofenac causes kidney failure in several species of Vultures. In March 2005 the Indian Government announced its support for a ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac. Another NSAID, ], has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove to be an acceptable substitute for diclofenac. In March 2006 diclofenac was still being used for animals throughout India and the changes in Indian legislation are awaited. When meloxicam production is increased it is hoped that it will be as cheap as diclofenac.


==Captive-breeding programmes== == Captive-breeding programmes ==
Captive-breeding programmes for several species of Indian vulture have been started. The vultures are long lived and slow in breeding, so the programmes are expected to take decades. Vultures reach breeding age at about 5 years old. It is hoped that captive-bred birds will be released to the wild when the environment is clear of diclofenac. Captive-breeding programmes for several species of Indian vulture have been started. The vultures are long lived and slow in breeding, so the programmes are expected to take decades. Vultures reach breeding age at about 5 years old. It is hoped that captive-bred birds will be released to the wild when the environment is clear of diclofenac.


==References== == References ==
{{reflist
{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->
| colwidth = 30em
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=9591|title=Gyps indicus|downloaded=9 May 2006}} Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered
| refs =


}}
==External links==

*
* {{IUCN
| id = 150691
| assessors =
| taxon = ''Gyps indicus''
| assessment_year = 2010
| version = 2010.4
| accessdate = 2011-05-31
| ref = {{harvid|IUCN redlist}}
}}

== External links ==
*
* *
* *

Revision as of 10:35, 31 May 2011

Indian Vulture
Indian vulture
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
(or Accipitriformes, q.v.)
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Species: G. indicus
Binomial name
Gyps indicus
(Scopoli, 1786)
Synonyms

Gyps indicus indicus

The Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) is an Old World vulture and is closely related to the Griffon Vulture, G. fulvus. It breeds mainly on crags in the hills of Sind in Pakistan, central and peninsular India. The birds in the northern part of its range once considered a subspecies are now considered a separate species, the Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris. These were lumped together under the name Long-billed Vulture.

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 dead animals which it finds by soaring over savannah and around human habitation. They often move in flocks.

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 80–100 cm (32–40 in) long and 205 to 229 cm (81–91 in) across the wings. It is distinguished from that species by its less buff body and wing coverts. It also lacks the whitish median covert bar shown by Griffon.

Population declines

Long-billed Vulture in flight

The Indian Vulture and the Indian White-rumped Vulture, G. bengalensis species have suffered a 99%–97% population decrease in Pakistan and India. 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 which were given diclofenac in the last days of life. Diclofenac causes kidney failure in several species of Vultures. In March 2005 the Indian Government announced its support for a ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac. Another NSAID, meloxicam, has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove to be an acceptable substitute for diclofenac. In March 2006 diclofenac was still being used for animals throughout India and the changes in Indian legislation are awaited. When meloxicam production is increased it is hoped that it will be as cheap as diclofenac.

Captive-breeding programmes

Captive-breeding programmes for several species of Indian vulture have been started. The vultures are long lived and slow in breeding, so the programmes are expected to take decades. Vultures reach breeding age at about 5 years old. It is hoped that captive-bred birds will be released to the wild when the environment is clear of diclofenac.

References

  1. IUCN redlist. sfn error: no target: CITEREFIUCN_redlist (help)
  2. http://www.peregrinefund.org/vulture_factsheet.asp#Long-billed%20Vulture,

External links

Old World vultures (subfamily: Aegypiinae)
GenusSpecies
Aegypius
Gypaetus
Gypohierax
Gyps
Necrosyrtes
Neophron
Sarcogyps
Torgos
Trigonoceps
Categories: