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Diclofenac residues as the cause of vulture population decline in Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • J. Lindsay Oaks

    (Washington State University)

  • Martin Gilbert

    (The Peregrine Fund)

  • Munir Z. Virani

    (The Peregrine Fund)

  • Richard T. Watson

    (The Peregrine Fund)

  • Carol U. Meteyer

    (USGS–National Wildlife Health Center)

  • Bruce A. Rideout

    (Zoological Society of San Diego)

  • H. L. Shivaprasad

    (University of California at Davis)

  • Shakeel Ahmed

    (Bahauddin Zakariya University)

  • Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry

    (Bahauddin Zakariya University)

  • Muhammad Arshad

    (Bahauddin Zakariya University)

  • Shahid Mahmood

    (Bahauddin Zakariya University)

  • Ahmad Ali

    (Bahauddin Zakariya University)

  • Aleem Ahmed Khan

    (Bahauddin Zakariya University)

Abstract

The Oriental white-backed vulture (OWBV; Gyps bengalensis) was once one of the most common raptors in the Indian subcontinent1. A population decline of >95%, starting in the 1990s, was first noted at Keoladeo National Park, India2. Since then, catastrophic declines, also involving Gyps indicus and Gyps tenuirostris, have continued to be reported across the subcontinent3. Consequently these vultures are now listed as critically endangered by BirdLife International4. In 2000, the Peregrine Fund initiated its Asian Vulture Crisis Project with the Ornithological Society of Pakistan, establishing study sites at 16 OWBV colonies in the Kasur, Khanewal and Muzaffargarh–Layyah Districts of Pakistan to measure mortality at over 2,400 active nest sites5. Between 2000 and 2003, high annual adult and subadult mortality (5–86%) and resulting population declines (34–95%) (ref. 5 and M.G., manuscript in preparation) were associated with renal failure and visceral gout. Here, we provide results that directly correlate residues of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac with renal failure. Diclofenac residues and renal disease were reproduced experimentally in OWBVs by direct oral exposure and through feeding vultures diclofenac-treated livestock. We propose that residues of veterinary diclofenac are responsible for the OWBV decline.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Lindsay Oaks & Martin Gilbert & Munir Z. Virani & Richard T. Watson & Carol U. Meteyer & Bruce A. Rideout & H. L. Shivaprasad & Shakeel Ahmed & Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry & Muhammad Arshad & S, 2004. "Diclofenac residues as the cause of vulture population decline in Pakistan," Nature, Nature, vol. 427(6975), pages 630-633, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:427:y:2004:i:6975:d:10.1038_nature02317
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02317
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    Cited by:

    1. Pilar Gómez-Ramírez & Guillermo Blanco & Antonio Juan García-Fernández, 2020. "Validation of Multi-Residue Method for Quantification of Antibiotics and NSAIDs in Avian Scavengers by Using Small Amounts of Plasma in HPLC-MS-TOF," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Richard Cuthbert & Mark A Taggart & Vibhu Prakash & Mohini Saini & Devendra Swarup & Suchitra Upreti & Rafael Mateo & Soumya Sunder Chakraborty & Parag Deori & Rhys E Green, 2011. "Effectiveness of Action in India to Reduce Exposure of Gyps Vultures to the Toxic Veterinary Drug Diclofenac," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(5), pages 1-11, May.
    3. Eyal Frank & Anant Sudarshan, 2024. "The Social Costs of Keystone Species Collapse: Evidence from the Decline of Vultures in India," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 114(10), pages 3007-3040, October.
    4. Yumei Luo & Kai Reimers & Lei Yang & Jinping Lin, 2021. "Household Drug Management Practices of Residents in a Second-Tier City in China: Opportunities for Reducing Drug Waste and Environmental Pollution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Gregor Devine & Michael Furlong, 2007. "Insecticide use: Contexts and ecological consequences," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 24(3), pages 281-306, September.
    6. Anne Chapman, 2006. "Regulating Chemicals—From Risks to Riskiness," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 603-616, June.
    7. C.R. Ohoro & A.O. Adeniji & A.I. Okoh & O.O. Okoh, 2019. "Distribution and Chemical Analysis of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in the Environmental Systems: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-31, August.
    8. Frank, Eyal G. & Sudarshan, Anant, 2022. "The Social Costs of Keystone Species Collapse : Evidence From The Decline of Vultures in India," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1433, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.

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