Egyptian vulture  (Neophron percnopterus)

Numerous threats are pushing this Endangered bird towards extinction. In Africa, declines have been caused by the loss of wild ungulate populations and, in some areas, overgrazing by livestock (5). In Europe, the Egyptian vulture has been suffering severe, long-term declines; the result of disturbance, lead poisoning from gun shot, direct poisoning and electrocution by powerlines, as well as regulations introduced within the European Union to control the disposal of animal carcasses, which have greatly reduced food availability for this scavenger. In addition, Avian pox has been cited as the cause of Egyptian vulture deaths in Bulgaria (5). In India, diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug often used for livestock, is likely to be the source of recent and extremely rapid declines in Egyptian vulture populations (5) (7). This drug, which is also responsible for devastating declines in other vulture species, poisons vultures when they feed on the flesh of treated livestock (8).

Throughout its range, the Egyptian vulture occurs in a number of protected areas, as well as being the subject of monitoring, supplementary feeding programmes and campaigns against the illegal use of poisons (5). In 2006, manufacture of the veterinary form of the drug diclofenac was banned by the Indian, Nepali and Pakistani governments (9) (10). While this was a remarkable step forward in vulture conservation, the drug remains widely available and the human form of the drug is sometimes being used to treat livestock instead (9). Many more measures may be necessary if the long-term survival of the Egyptian vulture is to be assured. BirdLife International recommends relaxing European Union regulations with regards to the disposal of animal carcasses, lobbying for the ban of diclofenac throughout the species range, and protecting nest sites, as just some of the measures which would benefit the Egyptian vulture (5).