What occurred in India following the decline of vulture populations due to diclofenac poisoning?
Answer
A spike in zoonotic diseases and an increase in feral dogs and rats
The loss of vulture populations in India created an ecological vacuum, as these birds were no longer available to clean up carcasses. Consequently, the population of other scavengers, such as feral dogs and rats, increased significantly to occupy the space. Because these other scavengers do not perform the cleanup role with the same efficiency or safety as vultures, the region experienced a marked increase in the prevalence of rabies and other zoonotic diseases, illustrating the critical nature of the ecological niche filled by vultures.
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