Sensitisation Event on Vulture Conservation for Pharmacists
The Tamil Nadu State Forest Department conducted an awareness programme and field trip to the vulture habitat for one of the key stakeholders, pharmacy shop owners and drug stockists cum wholesale dealers at Theppakadu, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve on 16 March 2024.
Reason for this meeting.
Reason for this meeting.
The meeting was organised to emphasise the use of vulture safe drugs, convey the gazette notification of the ban on veterinary drugs aceclofenac, ketoprofen and diclofenac and spread the importance of vultures.
Participants
Veterinarians, drug inspectors, pharmacists, pharmacy shop owners, stockists, NGOs, and media from the Mudumalai region participated in the event. Mr. Arun Kumar, I.F.S., Deputy Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, presided over the programme. In his speech, he highlighted the Tamil Nadu government's active involvement in vulture conservation, noting their critical status on the verge of extinction. He mentioned the ban on Diclofenac in 2006 due to its disastrous effects on vultures. He also highlighted the 2016 ban on multi-dose vials of diclofenac, which are intended for human use but are deliberately diverted for animal use.
He also drew attention to the recent ban on other drugs harmful to vultures, namely aceclofenac and ketoprofen. He also instructed that any remaining stocks of aceclofenac and ketoprofen be destroyed.
Dr Parthasarathy, Assistant Director, Department of the Animal Husbandry, emphasised that only Meloxicam and Tolfenamic acid, which are safe for vultures, are procured for the veterinary dispensaries. He mentioned that veterinarians are well informed about the banned drugs and receive regular counselling. Parthasarathy stressed the importance of monitoring the use of these drugs by people other than veterinarians. He also stressed that no medicine should be sold in shops without a veterinary prescription.
Mr Balaji, Drug Inspector, Udhagamandalam district, warned that the government had banned aceclofenac and ketoprofen in addition to diclofenac and that the sale of these banned drugs would result in imprisonment. He pointed out that more than 20 pharmacies in the Nilgiris district have already faced action for illegally selling diclofenac. Mr Balaji urged pharmacy owners, retailers and stockists to act ethically and within the law. We have a special duty to protect the biodiversity of the Nilgiris, including the vulture population, which is on the verge of extinction. He also warned that drug shops would be inspected at any time on the orders of higher officials of the department.
Mr Gopal, president of the Nilgiris District Pharmacists Association, said his members were following the instructions of the Department of Drug Control to protect human and animal life, including vultures. He assured that chemists in the Nilgiri district would not sell any banned or harmful drugs and would fully cooperate with the government's efforts. Gopal thanked everyone, including the Forest Department, for sensitising his association's members through the programme.
Dr Sukumar, a veterinary surgeon with over 30 years of experience in treating animals, discussed various reasons for the extinction of vultures, including food shortages, grazing bans and poisoning. However, his decision to stop using diclofenac came after he realised its effect on vultures. He advised other vets to do the same, highlighting the importance of taking proactive steps to protect vultures.
Dr. Manikandan, biologist (CWS) spoke about the vulture species and their role in ecology and the food chain. He also expressed concern about the availability of ketoprofen and flunixin in drug stores, noting that drug store owners were aware of the ban, but employees were selling the drugs without prescriptions.
Dr Brinda Raghavan, Veterinarian, (CWS) highlighted the direct link between the timing of the introduction of diclofenac and the crash of the vulture population. She explained that diclofenac was initially hailed as a miraculous drug by veterinarians, including herself, due to its immediate pain-relieving effects. However, she noted that cattle breeders often insisted on using diclofenac even when other drugs were available, as they observed quicker recovery times with diclofenac. Brinda emphasised that while aceclofenac and ketoprofen have been banned, they are still accessible, and she advocated for raising awareness as the first step instead of immediate legal action.
A Collaborative Effort for Vulture Conservation
During the event, Arulagam's secretary S. Bharathidasan emphasised the need for a concerted effort to save the vultures. He stressed the need for individuals, organisations, researchers and the forest department to work together to achieve this goal.
Bharathidasan also stressed the need to continue efforts to increase the vulture population, noting that they can fly long distances (up to 100 km) and lay only one egg per year.
During the event, Arulagam's secretary S. Bharathidasan emphasised the need for a concerted effort to save the vultures. He stressed the need for individuals, organisations, researchers and the forest department to work together to achieve this goal.
Bharathidasan also stressed the need to continue efforts to increase the vulture population, noting that they can fly long distances (up to 100 km) and lay only one egg per year.
He also discussed the global collaboration to identify diclofenac as the primary cause of vulture extinction. Bharathidasan thanked several organisations and individuals, including Dr Vibhu Prakash, Lindsey Oaks, Rhys Green, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, the Bombay Natural History Society, the Peregrine Fund, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Veterinary University, Multan (Pakistan), SAVE (Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction) and the countries of Nepal and Bangladesh. He highlighted the various initiatives being taken in these countries to address the problem.
He expressed his gratitude for the proactive steps taken by the Tamil Nadu government, highlighting that it had set a pioneering example in India. He noted that Ketoprofen had been withdrawn in 2014, followed by the withdrawal of Flunixin by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Animal Husbandry in 2019.
He expressed his gratitude for the proactive steps taken by the Tamil Nadu government, highlighting that it had set a pioneering example in India. He noted that Ketoprofen had been withdrawn in 2014, followed by the withdrawal of Flunixin by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Animal Husbandry in 2019.
He also mentioned a cautionary note regarding the recent availability of Diclofenac 30ml vials labelled for 2020 in shops in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh and 10ml vials in Gundulpet.
Alarming Fact on Vulture Decline
During the event, Suresh Babu, a pharmacist from Kotagiri, raised a critical question about the steps taken by the government to prevent the availability of banned drugs. In response, Bharathidasan acknowledged the challenges and noted that despite the government's efforts, banned drugs could still enter the market. He stressed the importance of ethical behaviour among pharmacists and veterinarians, saying that only through ethical practices could a solution be found to prevent the sale of banned drugs.
Stressing the urgency of the situation, Bharathidasan called for immediate efforts on a war footing to restore the vulture population. He highlighted the alarming fact that their numbers are fewer than the people gathered at the event, and that there isn't even a single pair of Egyptian vultures left in the state.
He underscored the importance of understanding and developing a deep, intrinsic love for these creatures. He concluded his speech with a quote from Jane Goodall, “Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help” stating that only by truly understanding and loving a living being can the desire to protect it be truly realised.
An Oath taken
As a prelude to the programme, the participants took an oath not to sell diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen, flunixin, nimesulide or analgin for veterinary use, all of which are harmful to vultures. They pledged to support the Forest Department's initiative to ensure the survival of vultures, highlighting their role in consuming dead animals and maintaining the ecological balance for us and future generations.
As a prelude to the programme, the participants took an oath not to sell diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen, flunixin, nimesulide or analgin for veterinary use, all of which are harmful to vultures. They pledged to support the Forest Department's initiative to ensure the survival of vultures, highlighting their role in consuming dead animals and maintaining the ecological balance for us and future generations.
Field Trip
The participants were also taken to the vulture habitat as part of the program. There, they enjoyed the natural beauty and observed the habitat of vultures, further connecting with the importance of conserving these majestic birds.
The participants were also taken to the vulture habitat as part of the program. There, they enjoyed the natural beauty and observed the habitat of vultures, further connecting with the importance of conserving these majestic birds.
Folders and Banners Communicating Vulture Conservation
On behalf of Arulagam, a copy of the gazette notification on banned drugs was provided to the participants and explanatory banners with scientific information on vultures were also displayed. The exhibits covered various aspects, including the species of vultures found in India and Tamil Nadu, their cultural and ancient Tamil literature connections, the ecological services they provide, the reasons for their decline, the impact on the food chain and the measures needed for their recovery. It also highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Union Government to conserve vultures, which left a positive impression on the audience.
On behalf of Arulagam, a copy of the gazette notification on banned drugs was provided to the participants and explanatory banners with scientific information on vultures were also displayed. The exhibits covered various aspects, including the species of vultures found in India and Tamil Nadu, their cultural and ancient Tamil literature connections, the ecological services they provide, the reasons for their decline, the impact on the food chain and the measures needed for their recovery. It also highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Union Government to conserve vultures, which left a positive impression on the audience.
Mr. Dayalan , Forest Range officer(FRO), Sigur welcomed the participants to the event. Mr. John Peter Raj, FRO of Singara and Mr. Balaji , FRO of Masinagudi co-moderated the event. The necessary arrangements for the event were organised by the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Masinagudi Forest Division.
