The Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) is an Old World vulture native to India, Pakistan and Nepal. It has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2002. The cause of the catastrophic reduction in their numbers has been identified to be the use by farmers of the veterinary drug diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug which extends an animal's working life, but makes its carcase toxic to vultures if the drug was recently administered. The Indian government has banned the use of the drug, and it is hoped that the vultures will stage a comeback.
This photograph shows a group of Indian vultures nesting on a tower of Chaturbhuj Temple in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh.Photograph credit: Yann Forget; edited by Samsara and Christian Ferrer
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