INDIA: Asia's first Vulture Care Centre, set up to preserve the scavenging birds that face extinction from a deadly, mysterious infectious disease, was inaugurated recently in northern India.
Established with a $229,160 grant from Britain, in the small town of Pinjore in the Himalayan foothills some 270 km north of Delhi, the facility includes a diagnostic laboratory that houses five vultures. Scientists hope to increase this number to around 40 birds through extensive breeding programmes.
"The project aims to identify the reasons behind the decline in the vulture population in India and to develop corrective measures," British bio-diversity minister Mr Elliot Morley said at the research centre's inauguration earlier this month.
The preservation programme also plans to radio-collar vultures to map their migration patterns as they soar across into Eurasia and even into Africa carrying the unidentified, deadly wasting disease with them. Ornithologists connected with the programme said this would help them get a better picture of the unknown disease and also to prevent it from proliferating.
Ailing and dead vultures have been found in neighbouring Nepal and Pakistan, and there is concern that the disease could spread to other vultures across Europe and through Africa.
Officials estimate that the population of two of India's commonest "griffon" vultures had declined by over 90 per cent due to the unknown, communicable disease that continues to baffle experts. Both species are now on Bird Life International's "critically endangered" list.
This, in turn, has triggered serious public health problems with rotting carrion lying around for days in towns and villages across India. Public health officials claim the vulture shortage has led to an increase in stray dogs that, in turn, has contributed to the spread of rabies.