Transcript Document

INDIA PROJECT FOR ANIMALS AND NATURE
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The Indian Vulture species have suffered a 99%–97% population decrease in Pakistan and India
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The cause of this has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drug diclofenac
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Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and when given to working
/dairy animals it can reduce joint pain / other painful conditions, fever and so keep them
working for longer.
The drug is ingested by vultures with the flesh of dead cattle which were given diclofenac in
the last days of life.
Diclofenac causes kidney failure in several species of Vultures.
In March 2005 the Indian Government announced its support for a ban on the veterinary
use of diclofenac.
Another NSAID, meloxicam, has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove to be
an acceptable substitute for diclofenac.
When meloxicam production is increased it is hoped that it will be as cheap as diclofenac.
As of August 2011 the ban for veterinary use has been in place for approximately a year but
diclofenac is still being used for animals throughout India
1. Ban diclofenac
• Use meloxicam instead
2. Proper disposal of carcasses
 Non-steroidal
“pain-killer”
 EASILY
anti-inflammatory drug,
available in India
 Registered
for veterinary use and widely
used in small & large animal practice in
western countries
 Safe
for vultures
 For
large animal use
 Dose
for cattle 0.5mg/kg (2.5ml/100kg)
• 300kg cow needs 7.5ml
• 400kg cow needs 10ml
 30ml
and 100ml bottles available
(injection)
 For
small animal use
 If
used for cattle, dose remains the same
0.5mg/kg but the REQUIRED VOLUME is
higher because the strength of the drug
as (mg/ml) is less
 400kg cow needs 40ml
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Practical only for small animals use
 Ketoprofen
 Phenylbutazone
 Flunixin
meglumin
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WITHDRAWAL PERIOD
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Not allowed to be slaughtered/milk to be consumed during
certain number of days after medication
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To protect public health
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Even when cattle is not slaughtered for human consumption
the same logic about the importance of withdrawal periods
need to be understood
After medicating animals they are not fit to be consumed by
people nor by vultures/other animals until certain time has
passed.
This withdrawal time varies between medicines.
 Animals
that die of any disease (death
due to anything else than a predator
attack) need to be properly disposed
(buried deep/burned)
 FMD
 Blackquarter
 Anthrax
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Burying
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At least 6 feet deep and treated with lime
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The location should be at least 100 feet from any property boundary or surface water, 200 feet
from a private or community water supply, and 400 feet from a municipal water supply.
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The buried material shall be placed at least 4 feet above the seasonal high water table and
bedrock.
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The carcasses shall be covered with at least 3 feet of clean fill immediately following placement in
the ground.
 Role of the local government bodies in the
arrangement of the disposal???
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Burning
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Need lot of firewood