Decline of the Oriental White-Backed Vulture Population in India Due to Diclofenac
Author Information
Author(s): Green Rhys E., Taggart Mark A., Senacha Kalu Ram, Raghavan Bindu, Pain Deborah J., Jhala Yadvendradev, Cuthbert Richard
Primary Institution: Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Hypothesis
The study investigates whether diclofenac residues in ungulate carcasses are sufficient to account for the decline of the oriental white-backed vulture population in India.
Conclusion
The level of diclofenac contamination found in ungulate carcasses was sufficient to account for the observed rapid decline of the oriental white-backed vulture in India.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found measurable levels of diclofenac in 10% of the liver samples from ungulate carcasses.
- The estimated death rate per meal for vultures was 2.66% to 3.23% depending on the feeding interval.
- The observed rate of decline from road transect counts was 48% per year, significantly lower than the expected decline based on diclofenac levels.
Takeaway
Vultures in India are getting sick and dying because they eat animals that were treated with a medicine called diclofenac, which is harmful to them.
Methodology
The study involved surveying diclofenac concentrations in liver samples from carcasses of domesticated ungulates and modeling the impact on vulture population trends.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of bias in the sampling of ungulate carcasses, which may not accurately reflect the exposure of vultures to diclofenac.
Limitations
The precision of the estimate based on carcass surveys is low, and the sampling may not be representative of all carcasses available to vultures.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on domesticated ungulates in India, including various species such as cattle and buffalo.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.021
Confidence Interval
95% confidence limits for mortality estimates ranged from 34% to 62%.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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