No abstract

Vultures are obligate scavengers known to accomplish incredible ecological feats unmatched by other birds of prey. However, the role of animal health specialists in vulture conservation is under-emphasized in Nigeria, despite vulture’s explicit dependence on the carcasses of domesticated livestock under the regime of veterinary caregivers. In our research, we evaluate the perception of animal health specialists on vultures and the veterinary use of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for livestock treatment in the study location. Data collated from a semi-structured questionnaire were analyzed using correspondence analysis to produce a simple visual display of the complex count data matrix. The prevalence of 10 NSAIDs was analyzed along 3 column attributes namely; Not-in-Use (NU), Rarely-Used (RU), and Frequently-Used (FU). The NSAIDs were statistically under the significant influence by the column attributes at 0.05 alpha-level (X2≤64.35;P<0.0000), with the principal axis accounting for 74.33% of the total inertia. Ketoprofen aggregated close to the centroid, while diclofenac and Ibuprofen were strongly associated with FU. Aspirin and Indomethacin inclined significantly towards the NU and RU axes, respectively. Despite the global consensus on the toxic influence of some NSAIDs on the vultures, about 90% of the research respondents were unaware of the hazards toxic NSAIDs are likely to impose on the vultures. Diclofenac has received less than enough focus, despite its extended use for livestock treatment in Nigeria. Future conservation interventions should therefore be designed to involve, engage and educate the veterinary practitioners in Nigeria.