Bird conservationists call for urgent action on veterinary drug regulation in India

11th October 2024 |

300 birdwatchers, veterinarians and vulture experts gathered in Ahmedabad, for 27 presentations on the status and threats to vultures across India, hosted by the Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat (BCSG) on 29 September 2024. The call to action from the meeting has been hosted on the BCSG website here. Guest of honour, Sri Nityanand Srivastav, PCCF Wildlife, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Gujarat stated:

“We have learnt more about how serious the vulture declines have been. The Gujarat Forest Department is formulating a Vulture Action Plan and a Vulture Conservation Committee among other measures to upgrade the breeding centre and to help to remove toxic veterinary drugs across the state.”

The meeting heard how diclofenac and other similar veterinary drugs have caused catastrophic vulture declines and remain a huge problem in vulture food. The participants agreed and have now published a collective call to action to address the ongoing threat posed by veterinary drugs used mainly in cattle. Specifically it is proposed that such veterinary drugs should only be licensed for veterinary use after they have been demonstrated to be safe for vultures.

Speakers included veterinary experts from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) and across India, as well as national and international research biologists from multiple agencies, (including from the UN Convention of Migratory Species- CMS) all united in the message that vultures in Gujarat and across India (especially the formerly most abundant species, the White-rumped Vulture) continue to decline despite the Government bans currently in place. Better implementation and removal of vulture-toxic drugs, and specifically any that replace the banned drugs, is a priority, and especially when there are equally affordable known safe alternatives (e.g. meloxicam and tolfenamic acid).

Twenty years ago, in September 2004 the BCSG hosted a similar meeting where vulture declines, and the then recent discovery of diclofenac being the main reason for declines, was documented. This meeting, exactly 20 years later, could therefore review progress with drug bans, with the establishment of breeding programmes, and with establishment of Vulture Safe Zones. But sadly the meeting also confirmed the further serious vulture declines that have occurred since then (not least in Ahmedabad itself) and identified some key actions that remain to be done.

Opening speeches by Dr Bakul Trivedi, President of BCSG, by the PCCF, and by national vulture expert Dr Vibhu Prakash, were reinforced by a presentation by Umberto Gallo-Orsi of CMS in highlighting an obligation agreed by the Indian Government as Party to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) to safety-test veterinary drugs before they are licensed. This step along with more rigorous implementation of the bans currently in place are the highest priority and highly achievable. The recent publication by Sophie Cook was also presented, further reinforcing this message.

Other actions were also highlighted for immediate action at a Gujarat state level, and although these also again focused on the national priority to regulate the toxic veterinary drugs, they extended to the need for reinstating a state level Vulture Conservation Committee, for more action towards creating Vulture Safe Zones, and for some improvements in the conservation breeding programme.

Dr Trivedi, BCSG President said how delighted he was with the response to the meeting, and how it was unfortunate that many people interested in attending the meeting were turned away due to lack of space. He also said “We have learnt so much about the declines and what is needed, and I hope BCSG can play a more active role in gathering information and achieving some of the key objectives. We are ready to take this up with our active and enthusiastic team and members.”

Dr Vibhu Prakash, national vulture expert said “We have long known about the diclofenac threat and the 2006 ban was an important step taken by the Indian Government. But this still needs better implementation, and the recent bans of ketoprofen and aceclofenac need highlighting further, as well as introducing a better regulatory system that prevents other toxic drugs from becoming popular and prompting the whole banning process all over again.”

Dr Umberto Gallo-Orsi of CMS said that “If India can lead by example as it did back in 2006 with veterinary diclofenac bans, by introducing a safety-testing system ahead of licensing drugs for veterinary use, then this will not only protect India’s vultures, but will also send an important message for the whole region and more widely. This action was very clearly recommended in the CMS Resolution 12.10 where India is a signatory, and since India holds more of all four Critically Endangered Asian vulture species than any other country, this is all the more reason that we look to India to take such a lead.”

Dr A Pawde of IVRI said “IVRI together with BNHS is proud to have played a central role in safety-testing of several veterinary painkiller drugs, two of which have so far proved to be safe for the vultures as well as the cattle. We hope we can further extend our expertise so that more safe drugs can be identified, and where necessary others that are toxic, like diclofenac and nimesulide, can be avoided .”

Mr Chris Bowden of SAVE and RSPB said “Hearing so many vulture talks focusing on the veterinary drugs threat, and seeing the engagement of so many veterinarians interested in overcoming this threat was truly inspiring. Twenty years on from the previous meeting here, we have come a long way. Gujarat is well placed to help lead the next steps, and it’s especially pleasing to see the interest of the Forest Department, the birdwatching community and veterinarians coming together in this way. I hope it can lead to further action!”

To summarise, the organisers of the 2024 National Symposium on Vulture Conservation propose all participants and the broader conservation community unify in their support to the following statement:

The assembled individuals and organisations call upon the Government of India to instigate, and legislate for, testing protocols which ensure that all drugs under consideration for use in livestock be tested to ensure safety for vultures before licences are issued and drugs released onto the market for veterinary use.

A new study published earlier this year examined the existing regulatory processes for veterinary drugs in Europe and South Asia and found them to be ineffective at protecting vultures and other wildlife. Such a consistent and precautionary approach is seen as the only way that India’s remaining vultures can be free from the threat of toxic NSAIDs.

List of organisations and key individuals participating in the meeting, and supportive of the call to action: BCSG, WWF India, BNHS, Wildlife Institute of India, SACON, IVRI, SAVE, State of India’s Birds, Arulagam, Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology Institute, Vibhu Prakash – Senior Vulture Conservationist, Percy Avari – Vice President – The Eye Vet and The Cancer Vet, Danwada Veterinary College, Devojit Das – Senior Veterinarian – Vets for Vultures and Himalaya Wellness Company India, Karnataka Forest Department (Dr. Prayag H S), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds – UK, CMS Raptors MOU, Gaurav Bansal – Lawyer with Delhi High Court, Bird Conservation Nepal, Zoology Department, Gujarat University, Sustainable Ecology Foundation, Jivdaya Charitable Trust