Forest dept blames the deaths on toxicity, although BNHS does not rule out diclofenac poisoning -the cause for rapidly depleting numbers in vultures
When two Steppe eagles were f o u n d d e a d i n B i k a n e r, Rajasthan, nearly 18 months ago, it created a stir among environmentalists and prompted scientists at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to collaborate with their counterparts at the UK-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to bring out its first study on the effect of diclofenac on the species, which is fast losing its natural habitat worldwide. Three days ago, the remains of 10 Steppe eagles were found near Panchgani's garbage depot, not too far from the carcass of a cow. This was spotted by wildlife photographer Ritesh Nangare from the city, who subsequently brought it to the forest department's notice. It has since had scientists sit up and take notice, too.
“Mortality due to poisoning has huge ramifications. If birds as big as Steppe eagles are dying of poisoning, there could be smaller birds also perishing in the bushes, which often go unnoticed. Raptors are indicators of a healthy ecosystem and their depleting numbers are a cause for concern,“ said Vibhu Prakash, a scientist with BNHS, who specialises in birds of prey. Speaking about the recent find, Nangare said, “Most of the bodies spotted here were scattered and decomposing.They were probably lying here for a few days.“
Nangare brought this to the notice of Anuj Khare, member of the state wildlife board, following which the forest department picked up six birds, of which post-mortem could be performed only on one. It was found that the bird died of toxicity. Although not proven, since the birds were found near the carcass of a cow, death by diclofenac (a drug used in cows to ease their joints, but cause for death in vultures which prey on them) cannot be ruled out. On consumption of the carcass on which the chemical is used, birds such as Gyps vultures, even Steppe eagles, have shown signs of kidney failure.
Pinning the blame on open dumping in the area, chief conservator of forests (CCF), Kolhapur, M K Rao, said, “There was toxic substance found in the one of the bodies on which post mortem was conducted. However, what the substance was is difficult to tell. We are going to take up the issue with Panchgani Municipal Council to dispose of garbage in a closed area to avoid such occurrences.“
Nagare, a frequent traveller in the area, has observed that at least 30 birds used to be spotted during the season in the past, which has now come down to just three or four. “We fear there might be others that may have perished in the valley as well. These migratory birds fly thousands of miles. This is heartbreaking,“ he said.
The raptors are at the apex of the food chain and an important component in the ecosystem. If there is an imbalance at the top of the pyramid where they rest, the entire pyramid is in danger of collapsing. “Raptors are indicators of good habitat. If visiting birds come here and die, it means that the habitat is not conducive for them.Who knows, there could be a possibility of other birds that could also have died because of poisoning,“ said Khare.
Highlighting a similar case from 2012, at Handewadi near Pune, Khare remembered how a garbage dump (consisting used utensils and stale food) from restaurants nearby decomposed because of rain, became infested with maggots, and was the cause of a large casualty of birds like crows, white storks (a scheduled animal) and dogs.
Laxmi Karadkar, president of Panchgani Municipal Council, denied that the hill station had any issue with garbage disposal. “The birds must have consumed something elsewhere, flew here and died. The population of Panchgani is merely 15,000 out of which 7,000 are boarding school students. Most of the waste generated here is just through food. There are no chemicals lying around.“ Sunil Sanade, the contactor of the garbage depot, however, suggested that the birds might have eaten a dead cattle which was lying there for some days.
When Mirror told narrated the incident to Vibhu Prakash, he said, “It can either be poison or diclofenac. In case of diclofenac poisoning, the bird dies in two to three days and are found in a scattered form. Steppe eagles are opportunistic scavengers that hunt as well. To locate the presence of diclofenac, specialised tests need to be conducted.“
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