Conservation Breeding for the Future Release of the Critically Endangered Asian GYPS Vultures - Progress of the Programme in South Asia and Why it is so Important

Abstract

Three South Asian Gyps vulture species are Critically Endangered with extinction, despite having been abundant in the 1990s. The main cause of the declines is now established, being ingestion of a veterinary painkiller, diclofenac, from cattle carcasses, which is toxic to the vultures. Two key actions have been identified by the range state governments and IUCN, namely the eradication of diclofenac from the environment and establishing a conservation breeding and release programme. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) was the first to take up the challenge for India with support from the Partners of the new consortium, Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE). Further programmes are developing for one species in Nepal and Pakistan, which are also integrated through SAVE, and with the support of Central Zoo Authority (CZA), there is progress with additional facilities within India. The breeding programme is most advanced at the BNHS centres, and has already achieved successful breeding of all three species at the centre in Pinjore, Haryana. Artificial incubation techniques have also been developed at the Pinjore centre, with successful rearing, and most recently, allowing some pairs to double productivity by producing two nestlings to fledging within a season, despite the vultures’ normal habit of laying one clutch per year. The total number of birds held in all centres combined for all three species combined is 270 in India, with a further 60 in Nepal, and 20 in Pakistan. The Central Zoo Authority supported centres hold additional birds to those held in India.