Incident Overview

  • 25 Himalayan Griffon vultures were found dead in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Cause: Suspected secondary poisoning after scavenging on stray dog carcasses that had consumed pesticide-laced rice.
  • This event raises concerns about illegal use of toxic substances and their cascading impact on protected wildlife.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve: Key Facts

  • Located in Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts of Uttar Pradesh.
  • Lies in the Terai belt along the Indo-Nepal border.
  • Comprises three protected areas:
  • Dudhwa National Park
  • Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Drained by the Mohana and Suheli rivers.
  • Known for rich biodiversity, including tigers, rhinos, and several bird species.

Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis)

Physical Characteristics

  • One of the largest Old World vultures, second only to the cinereous vulture.
  • Wingspan: 2.5 to 3 meters (8–10 feet).
  • Weight: 8–12 kg.
  • Pale khaki body with dark flight feathers.
  • Head covered in white down; distinct pale brown neck ruff.

Taxonomy and Distribution

  • Family: Accipitridae (eagles, hawks, harriers) — not closely related to New World vultures.
  • Found across high-altitude regions of:
  • India
  • Nepal
  • Bhutan
  • China (Tibet)
  • Central Asia (e.g., Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan)
  • Typically inhabits altitudes between 1,200 and 5,500 meters.
  • Nests colonially on steep, inaccessible rock cliffs.

Ecology and Behavior

  • Diet: Strict carrion feeder — plays a critical role in ecosystem hygiene.
  • Highly social, often seen in groups feeding on carcasses.
  • Soars at great heights using thermal updrafts to locate food.

Threats

  • Primary threat: Poisoning from veterinary drugs like diclofenac in livestock carcasses.
  • Secondary poisoning from consumption of animals that ingested toxic substances (e.g., pesticide-laced bait).
  • Habitat disturbance and declining availability of safe carrion.
  • Use of poison to control stray dog populations indirectly endangers scavengers.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Listed under Schedule I — highest legal protection in India.
  • CITES: Listed under Appendix II — regulates international trade.

Significance for UPSC

  • Highlights the fragility of conservation gains even within protected areas.
  • Emphasizes the need for integrated wildlife management, including control of stray animals and regulation of toxic substances.
  • Reinforces the importance of vultures in ecological balance and the consequences of their decline (e.g., increased disease spread due to unattended carcasses).
  • Connects to broader issues of human-wildlife conflict and environmental poisoning.