What secondary environmental pressure, alongside chemical poisoning, is further stressing the remaining Red-headed Vulture populations?
Answer
Habitat loss and degradation
While the acute poisoning from diclofenac is the most dramatic cause of immediate vulture death, the species faces a chronic, persistent threat from habitat loss and degradation. As human populations expand and agricultural intensity increases, the availability of natural carrion—the vulture's fundamental food source—diminishes. This means that the remaining birds that successfully avoid chemical contamination still struggle to find enough uncontaminated food across their wide, fragmented ranges. This dual pressure—chemical risk and food scarcity—makes recovery exceptionally challenging.
Related Questions
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