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Relevance: GS Paper III — Environment and Biodiversity (Species Conservation) Source: BNHS / MoEFCC / field reports, June 2026

1 · What happened

A specially bred and radio-tagged White-rumped vulture tragically died after hitting a high-voltage power line near Ebbanad village in Tamil Nadu. This area sits right next to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), which is home to the last significant population of this endangered bird in South India.

This specific bird had a tough journey. Originally released in Maharashtra in 2025, it fell ill, was rescued in Karnataka, and then carefully re-released in Mudumalai by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in April 2026. Its death shows just how difficult it is to reintroduce captive-bred birds back into the wild.

2 · Bringing a species back from the brink

In the 1990s, India almost lost all its vultures. Over 99% of White-rumped vultures were wiped out in just a few years. The culprit? A cheap cattle painkiller called diclofenac. When vultures ate dead cows treated with this drug, their kidneys failed. To save them, scientists started breeding them in captivity to release them slowly back into safe areas.

Why They Matter
Nature’s Cleanup Machines
Vultures quickly eat dead animals, stopping deadly diseases from spreading to humans and other wildlife. Without them, we see a dangerous rise in stray dogs, rabies, and anthrax.
The Old Enemy
Poisonous Medicine
Diclofenac was the main killer, causing fatal kidney failure in vultures. The Indian government officially banned its use in animals back in 2006 to stop the mass deaths.
The New Threat
Deadly Power Lines
Today, thick power lines cutting through forests are a huge danger. Large, soaring birds like vultures often crash into them or get electrocuted, just like the bird in Ebbanad.
The Solution
Breed, Tag, and Protect
Organisations like BNHS breed vultures safely and track them using radio tags. They also push for “safe zones” and special markers on power lines to warn the birds.

  • Breeding for survival: BNHS runs four major Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres across India in Haryana, West Bengal, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh to slowly rebuild the population.
  • Safe medicines: While diclofenac is banned, other harmful cattle drugs like Nimesulide are still a worry. Experts recommend a safe alternative called meloxicam.
  • The struggle to adapt: The vulture that died struggled to join wild flocks. Instead, it made risky solo flights into human-populated areas, leading to its accidental death.

UPSC Prelims Quick Facts
Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) A protected area, usually a 100-km radius around vulture nests, strictly kept free from toxic veterinary drugs.
Bird Flight Diverters (BFDs) Bright markers attached to power lines so large birds can see them and avoid deadly crashes.
SAVE “Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction” — an international partnership guiding the recovery effort.
White-rumped vulture status Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and gets the highest protection under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Visceral gout The fatal buildup of uric acid on a vulture’s internal organs, caused by eating cattle treated with toxic painkillers.

MCQ Practice
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the White-rumped vulture and its conservation:

  1. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and placed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  2. The veterinary use of the painkiller diclofenac was banned in India in 2016 to save vultures.
  3. Bird Flight Diverters are devices attached to power lines to make them more visible and prevent bird collisions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) All of the above

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

  • Statement 1 is Correct: The White-rumped vulture is Critically Endangered and receives the highest legal protection in India.
  • Statement 2 is Incorrect (UPSC Trap): Veterinary diclofenac was banned in 2006, not 2016. Always read the dates carefully in prelims!
  • Statement 3 is Correct: Bird Flight Diverters are a simple, effective tool to help large birds avoid electrocution on power lines.
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