Cinereous Vultures are also known as black vultures, monk vultures, or Eurasian black vultures.
These are huge birds. Standing at an impressive 4 feet in height, an adult bird can weigh close to 15 kg. in weight. Unfortunately, thanks to habitat loss and illegal hunting/ poisoning for their body parts, their numbers have declined worldwide over the past couple of centuries.
In India, apart from habitat loss, the main reason for their decline (as is the case with other vulture species) is the use of Diclofenac (an NSAID drug) in the cattle industry. Vultures feeding on the carcasses of cattle medicated with the drug have a high incidence of kidney failure leading to death. This species is listed as near-threatened with under 5000 estimated individuals worldwide.
Image taken in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India. 6th March 2020.
