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Investigating the impact of catastrophic vulture declines on public health in India
Griffon vultures are extremely effective and efficient scavengers, with a group of these birds being able to reduce an adult cow carcass to bare bones within a matter of minutes. The sudden and marked declines of griffon vultures in the Indian subcontinent will undoubtedly have important repercussions, both ecologically and for human health and well-being. Without as many vultures to dispose of dumped carcasses, there is an abundance of available meat. The result is that vulture declines have been associated with the explosion of feral dog populations at carcass dumps across India. India has the highest incidence of rabies in the World (c. 60% of all documented cases). Dogs that were once dependent on villagers for food are now breeding and living exclusively in the carcass dumps.
The British High Commission has supported a pilot investigation into the possible impact of the griffon vulture declines on public health in India, by determining if these declines have increased the threat of zoonotic diseases from dogs, rats and livestock carcasses. Further research investigating the potential economic impacts of the vultures declines is being undertaken with support from the RSPB and the UK government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund.
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