High mortality and sex ratio imbalance in a critically declining Oriental White-backed Vulture population (Gyps bengalensis) in Pakistan

Arshad, Muhammad; Chaudhary, Muhammad J. I.

doi:10.1007/s10336-008-0368-9

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Mortalities in our study were caused by visceral gout caused by diclofenac residues in livestock carcasses (Arshad et al 2009), which was a primary food source for our study population. Interviews with livestock and veterinary officers in Nagar Parkar indicated that diclofenac was commonly used to treat livestock in the area (Chaudhry 2004(Chaudhry , 2009.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

First evidence that populations of the critically endangered Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus in Pakistan have increased following the ban of the toxic veterinary drug diclofenac in south Asia

Chaudhry

Ogada

Malik

et al. 2012

Bird Conservation International

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SummaryThe cliff-nesting Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus is one of four critically endangered Asian Vultures. In India, this species has declined catastrophically, but in Pakistan only small population declines have been recorded. Mortality of this species has been linked to poisoning by veterinary diclofenac, which was banned throughout south Asia in 2006. Between 2003 and 2012 we measured abundance of adult, sub-adult, juvenile, and dead vultures, and nest occupancy and productivity at the largest known Long-billed Vulture colony in Pakistan. We compared population parameters from before (2003−2006) and after (2007−2012) the ban on veterinary diclofenac. Our data and models indicate that vulture abundance, nest occupancy, and nest productivity declined 61%, 73%, and 95%, respectively, in the three years before the diclofenac ban, and then increased 1–2 years after the ban by 55%, 52%, and 95%. Furthermore, we observed 87% of total vulture mortalities prior to the diclofenac ban. Our results demonstrate for the first time since the onset of the Asian vulture crisis that the ban on veterinary diclofenac is an effective management tool for reversing Long-billed Vulture population declines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

First evidence that populations of the critically endangered Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus in Pakistan have increased following the ban of the toxic veterinary drug diclofenac in south Asia

Chaudhry

Ogada

Malik

et al. 2012

Bird Conservation International

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“…Restrictions on the size of vials of injectable human diclofenac to make it less easy to use human formulations on livestock may help to eliminate these illegal practices. A similar situation may also exist in the Punjab province of Pakistan, where diclofenac-caused mortality of oriental white-backed vultures continued after government action to prevent its veterinary use [19]. If the recovery of wild vulture populations is to be achieved, additional efforts are needed to complete the removal of diclofenac from their food supply and to prevent its replacement by other lethal NSAIDs such as ketoprofen [14], [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Effectiveness of Action in India to Reduce Exposure of Gyps Vultures to the Toxic Veterinary Drug Diclofenac

et al. 2011

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Contamination of their carrion food supply with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac has caused rapid population declines across the Indian subcontinent of three species of Gyps vultures endemic to South Asia. The governments of India, Pakistan and Nepal took action in 2006 to prevent the veterinary use of diclofenac on domesticated livestock, the route by which contamination occurs. We analyse data from three surveys of the prevalence and concentration of diclofenac residues in carcasses of domesticated ungulates in India, carried out before and after the implementation of a ban on veterinary use. There was little change in the prevalence and concentration of diclofenac between a survey before the ban and one conducted soon after its implementation, with the percentage of carcasses containing diclofenac in these surveys estimated at 10.8 and 10.7%, respectively. However, both the prevalence and concentration of diclofenac had fallen markedly 7–31 months after the implementation of the ban, with the true prevalence in this third survey estimated at 6.5%. Modelling of the impact of this reduction in diclofenac on the expected rate of decline of the oriental white-backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis) in India indicates that the decline rate has decreased to 40% of the rate before the ban, but is still likely to be rapid (about 18% year−1). Hence, further efforts to remove diclofenac from vulture food are still needed if the future recovery or successful reintroduction of vultures is to be feasible.

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“…Recently, the environmental presence of diclofenac has been associated with the devastation of different species and populations of vultures (Arshad et al 2009). Toxicological effects of diclofenac on riparian and aquatic biota must be assessed either pure or in mixture with other pharmaceuticals with which synergistic effects could result (Cleuvers 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomarker assessment of toxicity with miniaturised bioassays: diclofenac as a case study

2011

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The development of suitable biomarker-based microbioassays with model species with ecological relevance would help increase the cost-efficiency of routine environmental monitoring and chemical toxicity testing. The anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac has been widely reported in the environment but ecotoxicological data are scarce. The aim of this work is to assess the acute and chronic sublethal toxicity of diclofenac in relevant taxa of aquatic and riparian ecosystems (the fish Danio rerio and the fern Polystichum setiferum). Reliable biomarkers of cell viability (mitochondrial activity), plant physiology (chlorophyll), growth (DNA content) or oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) were assessed as sensitive endpoints of toxicity. DNA quantification shows that diclofenac induces acute lethal phytotoxicity at 24 and 48 h (LOECs 30 and 0.3 μg l(-1), respectively). Hormetic effects in mitochondrial activity in spores of Polystichum setiferum mask lethality, and adverse effects are only observed at 48 h (LOEC 0.3 μg l(-1)). In chronic exposure (1 week) LOEC for DNA is 0.03 μg l(-1). Mitochondrial activity shows a strong hormetic stimulation of the surviving spore population (LOEC 0.3 μg l(-1)). Little changes are observed in chlorophyll autofluorescence (LOEC 0.3 μg l(-1)). A very short exposure (90 min) of zebrafish embryos induces a reduction of lipid peroxidation at 0.03 μg l(-1). Environmental concentrations of diclofenac can be deleterious for the development of significant populations of sensitive individuals in aquatic and riparian ecosystems.

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High mortality and sex ratio imbalance in a critically declining Oriental White-backed Vulture population (Gyps bengalensis) in Pakistan

Cited by 14 publications

References 21 publications

First evidence that populations of the critically endangered Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus in Pakistan have increased following the ban of the toxic veterinary drug diclofenac in south Asia

First evidence that populations of the critically endangered Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus in Pakistan have increased following the ban of the toxic veterinary drug diclofenac in south Asia

Effectiveness of Action in India to Reduce Exposure of Gyps Vultures to the Toxic Veterinary Drug Diclofenac

Biomarker assessment of toxicity with miniaturised bioassays: diclofenac as a case study

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