Red-headed vulture is critically endangered

About Red-Headed Vulture: 

• This is one of the 9 species of Vulture which are found in India.
• It is also called the Asian King vulture or Pondicherry Vulture.
• Appearance: It is a dark, medium-sized vulture with a bare reddish head and loose flaps on the side of the neck.
• It weighs around 5 kg and averaging over 80 cm in length, the vulture is primarily solitary, often seen alone or with a mate.
• Its black plumage is marked by a distinctive white patch on the abdomen, which becomes more prominent during flight.
• Distribution: The Red-Headed Vulture is typically found in Central India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• Breeding: Breeding typically takes place between November and January.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1
• Issue: It was extensively found in India but its numbers drastically reduced after diclofenac poisoning.

Q1: What is diclofenac?

It is a drug used in the treatment and management of acute and chronic pain associated with inflammatory conditions, especially those involving the musculoskeletal system.

Source :In a first, rare Red-Headed Vulture spotted in Kasaragod