India signs MoU to conserve Birds of Prey

The Union Government signed an important Raptor MoU for the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.

Flash points

• This Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Convention of Migratory bird species Secretariat at Abu Dhabi on March 7
• The Raptor MoU covers 76 species of birds of prey, of which over 50 occur in India, including the critically endangered vulture
• The Union government cleared the Ministry of Environment’s proposal during December however this is not a legal binding
• Raptors, or birds of prey, are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal shooting and poisoning, collisions with aerial structures and electrocution by power lines
• This MoU will insist the need for conservation of Migratory birds by all the countries which lie in the migratory Route
• It is of great concern to the vultures in India as the population have declined from 40 million in 1980 to 1,00,000 in 2015
• One of the main causes for the decline of Vulture population is the use of Diclonefac drug used for treating cattle diseases
• Vultures feeding on the cattle carcasses were affected by this drug
• Due to the Asian vulture crisis this drug was banned in 2006

Key points

• Raptor MoU came into effect in 2008
• India became the 56^th member to sign the MoU
• The MoU is with Convention of Migratory Species
• India is member of CMS since 1983
• Ambassador of India to the UAE-Shri T.P Seetharam