Gaushalas, or cattle shelters, across Rajasthan have taken significant steps that are helping revive the state’s declining vulture population by discontinuing the use of veterinary medicines known to be toxic to the birds and by adopting safer methods of carcass disposal. According to the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), these traditional institutions are now playing an unexpected but crucial role in vulture conservation.
In a statement released on December 30, BNHS said that many gaushalas in Rajasthan have stopped administering non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen and nimesulide, which are highly toxic to vultures. Instead, they have shifted to vulture-safe alternatives like meloxicam and tolfenamic acid. In addition, several shelters have stopped burying dead cattle and are leaving carcasses at designated dumping sites, ensuring a safe and reliable food source for vultures.
Vultures are vital scavengers that help clean the environment and prevent the spread of diseases by feeding on animal carcasses. Their population in India has witnessed a catastrophic decline over the past few decades, largely due to the veterinary use of toxic NSAIDs. When vultures consume carcasses of cattle treated with these drugs, they suffer kidney failure caused by visceral gout, often leading to death.
BNHS director Kishor Rithe said the organisation observed that a large number of gaushalas in Rajasthan had voluntarily adopted practices beneficial to vultures. He noted that by avoiding toxic drugs and allowing carcasses to be accessible, these shelters have helped ensure ample food availability for vultures across the state.
One such example is Apna Ghar, a non-profit organisation that runs a gaushala at Lohagharh near Bharatpur, housing over 5,000 cattle. A volunteer at the shelter, PK Saini, said they have relied on traditional cattle treatment methods from the beginning and consciously avoided medicines that could harm vultures.
BNHS officials said this shift reflects a broader trend across Rajasthan, where many cow shelters are returning to older, less drug-dependent methods of cattle care. Sujit Narwade, deputy director at BNHS, said these traditional practices are strengthening vulture conservation in the state. He explained that Rajasthan’s large cattle population, particularly in the Thar Desert, has encouraged gaushalas to revive methods that involve natural care and open carcass disposal in designated areas.
Narwade highlighted BNHS’s monitoring work in Bikaner over the past four to five years, noting that carcass disposal practices have helped stabilise vulture populations at the Jorbeer Conservation Reserve. The site, considered Asia’s largest carcass dump, has become a secure refuge for both resident and migratory vultures. Similar positive outcomes have been observed at gaushalas in Karauli and Dhaulpur, where safe food availability has supported local vulture populations.
Rithe emphasised that because gaushalas manage thousands of cattle, their role in conservation can be decisive. By following traditional practices such as avoiding vulture-toxic drugs and disposing of carcasses in the open at designated sites, gaushalas are not only providing safe food for vultures but also contributing to public health by reducing the risk of disease transmission.
Conservationists say these developments show that community-led, traditional practices can complement scientific conservation efforts and offer a sustainable path to restoring vulture populations in India.