Survey on Diclofenac use for Cattle
Arulagam utilized the chance to conserve Vulture (Pinam Thinni Kalugu) with the support and guidance of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) through vulture advocacy program. About 99% of vulture population dramatically declined within the last two decades in India because of wide-spread usage of anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac and Ketoprofan.
This drug is commonly used as a painkiller. When the vulture consumes carcasses of livestock, which treated with these toxic drugs, death is inevitable due to renal failure. Even a small percentage of this toxic drug could drive a huge decline of vulture.” Lindsay Oaks says. (He’s one of the veterinarians who in 2004 first linked Diclofenac to the vulture decline). Through the continuous lobby of BNHS, now the Drug controller general of India has banned the manufacture of Diclofenac for animal use. In-spite of the ban, now cattle owners buy this cheap drug, which was packaged for humans, and use it for animals. Arulagam team focussed survey on the prevalence of Diclofenac as a veterinary drug and other NSAID in different locations of Tamil Nadu namely, Tirunelveli, Salem, Coimbatore, and Sathyamangalam. Details of the Survey in the Sathy region are available on request.
Sathyamangalam:
Drug Purchase details and attitude survey of the Drug shop owners
We attempted to purchase Nimesulides in 30 Shops. We were able to buy in 22 shops. Out of those 22 shops we were able to buy Diclofenac in 18 shops. Some of the shop keepers ready to supply the banned drug by paying the amount in advance and asking us to collect it the next day. We took an attitude and awareness survey in 11 drug shop owners. Out of those, 10 shop-keeper sells and promote Diclofenac. But when we went for survey three of them denied. But we purchased the drug from the same store. One shopkeeper reacted human dose is less power. One shop keeper (Bungalow Puthur) told there is no supply. No one is aware of the banned drugs and their consequences on vulture.
Attitude survey among Veterinary Personnel
We conducted an attitude and awareness survey among 4 Animal Husbandry personnel.
They are using Melonex only in the Government dispensary. But retired doctors and livestock inspectors widely use Diclofenac. Human combination Diclofenac produced by Ranbaxy company is widely used by veterinarians. Rate wise also Melonex is twice than Ranbaxy. The price for 30 ml Voyal for Ranboxy and Melonex are Rs 17.62 and Rs.50 respectively
Attitude survey among the Forest Personnel
We conducted an attitude and awareness survey among 8 forest personnel which includes Ranger, Forest guard, Watcher, Anti-poaching watcher. Out of them three of them have seen vulture. Almost all of them have been regularly sighting vultures. Three of them have sighted the nest in ALLIMOYARU, MASIKOVIL, PALAMARATHUPATTI, RAMAR ANAI of Moyar Valley. They shared the reason for vulture declines which includes myth, disease outbreak, disease-prone carcass, Bird flu, etc but none of them pointed out Diclofenac. One wildlife tracker pointed out 6 vultures found dead due to poisoning of carcass in Singur range about two years back. During this poisoning, 2 Hyenas were also found dead. And this is a common phenomenon in Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam, and Valparai. One month back also leopard was found dead in Nilgiri region due to poisoning. Awareness level among forest personnel is very low. On behalf of Arulagam we want to thank Mr. Sasikumar (Malabar Natural History Society) and Dr. Kristopher (Kottayam Mahatma Gandhi University), Dr. Vibhu Prakash, Principal Scientist(BNHS), and Dr. Chrisbowden, International Species Recovery officer, Vulture program Officer, RSPB for supporting this project.
