# International Vulture Awareness Day ![](https://i.imgur.com/2W7O7Dv.png) * The first Saturday in September each year is International Vulture Awareness Day. * Vultures play an important role in an ecosystem by scavenging on animal carcass before it decomposes - helping prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and other pathogens into the ground and water. ![](https://i.imgur.com/RS27N82.jpg) * #### Habitat Preferences * Breeding and roosting - Forests with tall trees and mountains. * Feeding - Areas with plenty of wildlife and proximity to carcass disposal areas. * Once found across the Indian subcontinent, they are now found only in isolated pockets. Their populations faced a dramatic decline of almost 99% in certain species within a short span, primarily due to human-related activities. * Three of India's vulture species: the Long-billed (Gyps indicus), the Slender-billed (Gyps tenuirostris), and the White-rumped (Gyps bengalensis), declined by more than 97 percent between 1992 and 2007. * In the early 2000s, an increasing number of vultures were dying of kidney failure (BHNS) which were traced back to the presence of diclofenac sodium (a drug used to treat pain and inflammation) in the carcass of livestock (The Peregrine Fund, WWF Pakistan). * In India, the drug's veterinary use was banned in 2006, followed by other countries in the subcontinent. Safer alternatives are now available in the market. * #### Other Threats to Vultures * Habitat loss leading to a decline in nesting areas * Change in carcass disposal and lack of wild animal carcass resulting in a shortage of food. * Competition for food with other scavengers, especially free-ranging dogs. * Electrocution by high tension power lines. * Retaliatory killing by poisoning of animal carcass in certain areas. ![](https://i.imgur.com/nFq0NCw.jpg) * #### What's the future of Vultures? * Timely actions taken by the Indian government and conservation organisations has enabled a steady increase in vulture populations in certain areas. Madhya Pradesh has seen a 12% increase, with some regions showing a 100% increase. * Enabling vulture-safe areas by addressing other potential threats is the need of the hour.