Consider the following statements regarding vulture conservation in India:

1. India’s first vulture sanctuary, Ramadevarabetta, is located in Karnataka.

2. The Indian long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In News

• The Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary in Karnataka, India’s first and only vulture sanctuary, has reported successful breeding of the Indian long-billed vulture offering hope for the species’ survival.

Key Points

• Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary in Karnataka is India’s first vulture sanctuary and provides protection to the Indian long-billed vulture, among other species. 
  • The sanctuary was declared in 2012 to protect vultures, which suffered a sharp decline due to diclofenac poisoning from cattle carcasses.
  • Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• The Indian long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) is classified as Critically Endangered, not Vulnerable, on the IUCN Red List due to severe population decline.
  • The vulture crisis in the Indian subcontinent reduced their numbers drastically due to kidney failure caused by diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug used in cattle.
  • Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Additional Information

• Other vultures sharing habitat with the Indian long-billed vulture include the slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) and white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis). 
• The ban on diclofenac in 2006 has helped stabilize some vulture populations, but threats like habitat loss and poisoning persist.
• Conservation programs, including vulture breeding centers and sanctuaries like Ramadevarabetta, play a crucial role in vulture recovery efforts.