GANDHINAGAR: The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS-COP) has laid emphasis on developing vulture safe zones and has recommended mandatory safety testing for new and existing products used for animal treatment.
A paper on “Minimizing the risk of poisoning to migratory birds,’ presented during CMS-COP13 held in Gandhinagar has stated, “Diclofenac, used as a veterinary product in the treatment of cattle in the Indian subcontinent, has caused massive population crashes in Oriental White-backed Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed and Long-billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris and Gyps indicus) of up to 99.9 per cent in just 20 years. These three widespread and hugely numerous species, which feed on the carcasses of treated cattle, are now listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN.”
The CMS-COP has recommended that to address the impact of diclofenac, the surveillance in the high-risk areas must be increased and the government should raise awareness on alternative to diclofenac.
The paper, which was discussed during the CMS-COP, states that poisoned baits are used as means to harvest water birds for consumption. A study in Kenya found use of carbofuran (Furadan) baits resulting in poisoning of over 8,000 birds.
“Rodenticides used in agricultural, industrial and domestic rodent control campaigns, result in improper use or disposal of rodent carcasses, causing unintentional mortality to wildlife,” mentioned the study.
According to the paper, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remain a concern in some areas. The paper points at indoor spraying of DDT and medicines used for other malaria control programmes. Further investigation showed residues of DDT in the eggs of Black Stork Ciconia Nigra.
A senior Gujarat forest official here said there is no such study in India but he was sure that the birds were dying of DDT and medicines used for malaria control. He said that there was a need for such studies in Gujarat also.
A paper on “Minimizing the risk of poisoning to migratory birds,’ presented during CMS-COP13 held in Gandhinagar has stated, “Diclofenac, used as a veterinary product in the treatment of cattle in the Indian subcontinent, has caused massive population crashes in Oriental White-backed Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed and Long-billed vultures (Gyps tenuirostris and Gyps indicus) of up to 99.9 per cent in just 20 years. These three widespread and hugely numerous species, which feed on the carcasses of treated cattle, are now listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN.”
The CMS-COP has recommended that to address the impact of diclofenac, the surveillance in the high-risk areas must be increased and the government should raise awareness on alternative to diclofenac.
The paper, which was discussed during the CMS-COP, states that poisoned baits are used as means to harvest water birds for consumption. A study in Kenya found use of carbofuran (Furadan) baits resulting in poisoning of over 8,000 birds.
“Rodenticides used in agricultural, industrial and domestic rodent control campaigns, result in improper use or disposal of rodent carcasses, causing unintentional mortality to wildlife,” mentioned the study.
According to the paper, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remain a concern in some areas. The paper points at indoor spraying of DDT and medicines used for other malaria control programmes. Further investigation showed residues of DDT in the eggs of Black Stork Ciconia Nigra.
A senior Gujarat forest official here said there is no such study in India but he was sure that the birds were dying of DDT and medicines used for malaria control. He said that there was a need for such studies in Gujarat also.
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