Once numbering in the millions, South Asia's vulture populations have suffered the most catastrophic decline of any bird group in recorded history.
Population decline since 1990s
Vulture species in India
Critically Endangered
Vultures treated by WR (2020-25)
How a common painkiller nearly wiped out an entire group of species.
Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely used to treat livestock pain, is lethal to vultures. When vultures feed on the carcasses of animals treated with diclofenac shortly before death, the drug causes acute kidney failure — killing vultures within days. This single drug drove the White-rumped Vulture from being the most abundant large raptor on Earth to near-extinction.
Mysterious mass die-offs observed. White-rumped Vulture — once described as 'possibly the most abundant large bird of prey in the world' — starts disappearing.
Scientists discover that diclofenac, a common veterinary painkiller given to livestock, causes fatal kidney failure in vultures that feed on treated carcasses.
IUCN Red List upgrades Egyptian Vulture from Least Concern to Endangered as Indian populations show >35% annual decline. Road transect counts dropped 68% between 2000-2003.
The Indian government bans diclofenac for veterinary use. However, illegal use continues and human-formulation diclofenac is often diverted for animal treatment.
Galligan et al. (2014) report indications that Egyptian Vulture declines appear to have slowed after the ban, though small numbers make conclusions less robust.
India's 4 Critically Endangered vulture species remain at dangerously low numbers. An estimated 12,400-36,000 Egyptian Vultures survive globally.
Sources: IUCN Red List (BirdLife International, 2021); Galligan et al. (2014) Bird Conservation International; Kumar et al. (2026) EcoHealth; Oaks et al. (2004); Prakash et al. (2003).
Four are Critically Endangered. One is Endangered. None are safe.
Gyps bengalensis
Formerly the most abundant large raptor on Earth — declined 99.9%
Threats: Diclofenac poisoning, food loss, habitat degradation
Gyps indicus
Also called Long-billed Vulture — declined 97.4% from 1992-2003
Threats: Habitat destruction, poisoning, human disturbance
Gyps tenuirostris
Estimated just 150-200 breeding pairs remain
Threats: Diclofenac poisoning, habitat loss, food scarcity
Sarcogyps calvus
Once widespread across the subcontinent, now extremely rare
Threats: Habitat loss, poisoning, human persecution
Neophron percnopterus
Declined >35% per year in India since 1999. WR's primary vulture patient.
Threats: Lead poisoning, electrocution, diclofenac, pesticide exposure
Aegypius monachus
The largest Old World vulture — wingspan up to 3 meters
Threats: Habitat loss, food scarcity, human persecution
Gypaetus barbatus
Also called Lammergeier — feeds primarily on bones
Threats: Habitat destruction, food availability decline
Gyps himalayensis
One of the largest and heaviest flying birds in the world
Threats: Habitat disturbance, climate change
Gyps fulvus
Declining in Central Asia due to changing agricultural practices
Threats: Habitat loss, poisoning, collision with infrastructure
Conservation status per IUCN Red List. CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.
Source: Kumar et al. (2026) EcoHealth; IUCN (2021).
Every vulture case is treated as a critical conservation priority.
| Year | Egyptian Vultures | Total Birds |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | 2,489 |
| 2021 | 5 | 2,767 |
| 2022 | 4 | 3,385 |
| 2023 | 5 | 3,383 |
| 2024 | 7 | 3,685 |
| 2025* | 4 | 1,727 |
| Total | 31 | 17,436 |
* 2025 data is year-to-date. Source: WR intake records (5 Year.xlsx).
With only an estimated 12,400-36,000 Egyptian Vultures remaining globally, each individual is significant for species survival. Wildlife Rescue treats every vulture case as the highest priority — they receive immediate triage, specialized housing, and extended rehabilitation.
Sultan, an Egyptian Vulture (Case #34,207), arrived at Wildlife Rescue with a fractured wing from a vehicle collision. As an Endangered species, his case was immediately escalated to critical priority.
Read more rescue storiesNature's most efficient cleanup crew — and why their loss affects us all.
A group of vultures can strip a cattle carcass in 30-40 minutes, preventing disease spread. Their highly acidic stomachs (pH ~1) safely destroy anthrax, botulism, and cholera bacteria.
When vultures disappeared, feral dog populations exploded — feeding on carcasses vultures once consumed. India saw a surge in rabies cases, with an estimated $34 billion annual economic burden.
Vultures hold deep cultural importance in South Asian traditions, including Zoroastrian sky burials (Towers of Silence) and Hindu beliefs. Their disappearance disrupted centuries-old practices.
As apex scavengers, vultures indicate ecosystem health. Their decline signals broader environmental degradation — from toxic chemicals in the food chain to habitat destruction.
Sources: Markandya et al. (2008); Ogada et al. (2012); Purohit & Saran (2013); Houston (2001).
Your donation directly funds the rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation of endangered vultures at Wildlife Rescue in Delhi. Every rupee counts toward saving these irreplaceable birds.
