Asian vultures appeal

Update

In 2008, two oriental white-backed vulture chicks succesfully fledged in one of the captive breeding centres in India - the first captive breeding of this species in the world.
In 2006, the Indian government announced a manufacturing ban of diclofenac within three months and shortly afterwards, the Nepalese authorities halted the dmoestic manufacture and import of diclofenac. Then, significantly, in August 2008, the Drug Controller General of India took a further step, making sale and use of the drug illegal. To prevent vets using human diclofenac for livestock, the Government announced that all stocks of the drug must be labelled as 'not for veterinary use'.

Three of southern Asia's vultures have declined by more than 97% since the early 1990s.

The Oriental white-backed vulture was so abundant in India in the 1980s that it was probably the most common large bird of prey in the world. Only one in a thousand now survives, a 99.9% decline for this species.

Today, along with the long-billed vulture and slender-billed vulture, it is critically threatened with extinction in the near future.

This shocking decline is because of a veterinary drug, diclofenac, which is toxic to any vulture that feeds on the corpse of recently treated cattle. 

RSPB Vice-President Chris Packham speaks passionately about why we must save Asia's vultures.

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What do we hope to achieve?

We need to raise money urgently to save these magnificent birds.

Until diclofenac stops being used for cattle in Asia these birds need to be bred in captivity, to be released only when it is safe for them in the wild once more.

We are also working hard and supporting our BirdLife partners to help rid the market of diclofenac for veterinary use by showing farmers there are other solutions just as effective at treating their cattle.

Their decline has been quicker than that of the dodo - now is our chance to prevent them from suffering the same fate

Why we need your help

  1. we will breed captive vultures, in a safe environment with clean food
  2. we will work with our BirdLife partners to lobby governments and raise awareness in India, Pakistan and Nepal, to make sure the diclofenac bans are effective in time to prevent total extinction
  3. in 10 or 15 years' time, we will reintroduce the captive birds to a safer world

3 ways to donate

You can donate by secure online form, by telephone or by post.

1. Secure online form

Donating online is easy and ensures that more of your money is used for conservation.

Donate now

2. By telephone

Our Membership Services team can also take donations over the phone.

01767 693 680

9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday

3. By post

We can accept donations by cheque too. Please make cheques payable to The RSPB and send them to:

Asian vultures appeal
The RSPB
The Lodge
Sandy
Bedfordshire
SG19 2DL