The IUCN Red List in 2022 listed the endangered vulture species due to their rapidly declining population.
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More than five lakh people died due to germs spreading infections from dead animals, which was linked to the disappearance of vultures according to a report published in Science.org.
Indian vultures are mainly found in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, and Nepal, and some areas in Southeast Asia.
Vultures are called “natural cleaners” because they eat meat quickly before it rots, and their stomach acid can destroy harmful substances found in dead animals.
Researchers Eval Do G Frank and Anant Sudarshan from Chicago University suggest that the Indian government take measures to destroy waste that releases toxic substances and spreads disease.
The study mentions that about $70 billion was spent in the public health sector in a year due to diseases spread by germs from dead animals.
Vultures are necessary to keep the environment clean by eating dead animals before they rot, preventing the spread of germs and deadly infections to humans. Their presence helps maintain a safe and clean environment.
The disappearance of vultures has led to an increase in the population of stray dogs, which eat dead animals and have increased the risk of rabies. Additionally, germs from dead animals are spreading more, causing deadly infections in humans.
The vulture population was four crore in 1990 and has now reduced to only 60,000.