Asian Vulture Classroom Activity

Background:

The Asian Vulture Crisis is a current problem in today’s science news.  Three vulture species (Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, and Slender-billed Vulture) that used to be very common throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal, and other regions of southern Asia are nearing extinction due to the veterinary use of a common anti-inflammatory drug called "diclofenac."  This drug is used widely among cattle owners in southern Asia to ease the pain and inflammation in injured and sick cattle.  

One side-effect of diclofenac is that it may cause kidney failure in mammals in high doses.  Recently, it has been discovered to cause kidney failure, called "gout" in birds at extremely small doses.  Since vultures are scavengers and their diet consists primarily of large mammal carrion, much of which is contaminated with diclofenac, Asian vultures have suffered huge numbers of deaths from kidney failure, causing populations to decline by nearly 95% in the last decade.  In fact, these species may already be "functionally extinct," as it may be too difficult for the waning populations to recover.  

In discussing potential solutions to this crisis, it is important to remember that this issue cannot be resolved by biologists alone.  There are significant social, cultural, religious, political, economical, and environmental considerations to be made as well.  The following activity addresses some of these.

Grade:  6-12

Time:  30-45 minutes

Objectives:

1.  Students will learn about the impact that the disappearance of a species can have on the entire society.
2.  Students will examine a crisis situation from different points of view.
3.  Students will discuss various solutions to the Asian Vulture Crisis, and read about what is currently being done.

Materials:

Internet access:  www.peregrinefund.org (click on “Conservation Projects”--> “Asian Vulture Crisis”)

Activity Cards: 

• Preparation:  Either download the activity cards and print to 5x8 index cards, or write each question below on a separate 5x8 index card.  Leave the back sides blank for students to write their answers.  These may also be laminated and written on with a wet-erase marker for use with multiple classes.

• Activity Questions:

1. How do you think the disappearance of the vulture will affect the ecosystem?

2. In many regions of Asia, such as Pakistan and India, local religious beliefs strongly influence regional policy.  What do you know about Asian religions that might affect how local governments might decide to dispose of the large numbers of carcasses, and deal with the crisis, in general?  What do you know about the Parsi religion?

3. Before it was discovered that diclofenac was the culprit in the decline of the Asian vultures, many thought that there might be other explanations for the vulture decline.  What might some of these be?

4. If you were a scientist on the committee responsible for looking into the Asian Vulture Crisis, what steps might you suggest in order to prevent the extinction of these vulture species? (HINT:  check ou the Asian Vulture Crisis at www.peregrinefund.org)

5. Who are the groups of people that you would have to consider in coming up with a solution to the Asian Vulture Crisis?  Why?  (HINT:  think of any group that might have a strong opinion for or against possible solutions to the problem.)

Procedures:

1.  Pose just the basics first:

• Vultures typically feed on dead livestock and other large animals.

• The drug "diclofenac," an anti-inflammatory, is used as a painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug for livestock in Asia.

• The vultures were being poisoned by eating livestock that died shortly after being treated with diclofenac.

2.  Divide students into five groups.  Give one card to each group of students.

3.  If time allows, ask students to research answers to their questions on the internet before conducting a group discussion.  If time is short, give students about ten minutes to discuss the question on their card, and write the answers on the back.

4.  Ask each group to read its question aloud, and give the answers they came up with.  Write these on the board, and also discuss with them the suggested answers, below.  You may follow this up with readings or information hunts on The Peregrine Fund website (listed above).

Suggested Answers:

1.  How do you think the disappearance of the vulture will affect the ecosystem?

1. Too many carcasses of large animals – potential for disease to spread, etc.

2. Currently a problem with packs of wild dogs (as well as disease-carrying rats) scavenging the carcasses.  Also, humans are more afraid of these animals, because they are less timid than vultures.

2. In many regions of Asia, such as Pakistan and India, local religious beliefs strongly influence regional policy.  What do you know about Asian religions that might affect how local governments might decide to dispose of the large numbers of carcasses, and deal with the crisis, in general?  What do you know about the Parsi religion?

1. "The cow is the embodiment of divine virtues like love, compassion, benevolence, tolerance and non-violence," and that it commands reverence and cultural sanctity.

2. On Mumbai’s (formerly Bombay’s) famed Towers of Silence, members of the Parsi religion traditionally left their dead for vultures to pick clean, rather than contaminate sacred earth, water, or fire with their remains. There, a horde of vultures could reportedly reduce a human body to no more than bones in 30 minutes.

3. Now, followers of the Parsi faith employ strong solar panels that desiccate and hasten the decomposition of their dead in a way that does not forsake their beliefs.

3. Before it was discovered that diclofenac is the culprit in the decline of the Asian vultures, many thought that there might be other explanations for the vulture decline.  What might some of these be? 

1. An environmental toxin or pesticide, similar to DDT.

2. Shooting vultures down around airbases to prevent them from flying into the planes' engines.

3. A contagious virus that could be spread to other vultures on other continents.

4. If you were a scientist on the committee responsible for looking into the Asian Vulture Crisis, what steps might you suggest in order to prevent the extinction of these vulture species?

1. Scientists can FEED vultures livestock carcasses that are uncontaminated.  Eventually they will learn where to go for this food source, and this will prevent them from seeking their own food that could have been contaminated.

2. Collect a number of wild vultures and begin a captive breeding program.

3. Ask for a commitment to eliminate the use of diclofenac.

4. Relocate these birds to another area in a neighboring country not affected by the problem.

5. Who are the groups of people that you would have to consider in coming up with a solution to the Asian Vulture Crisis?  Why?  (HINT:  think of any group that might have a strong opinion for or against possible solutions to the problem.)

1. Cattle owners

2. Pharmaceutical Companies

3. Local religious leaders

4. Department of Environmental Protection (or the equivalent in each country)

5. Vulture Advocates (The Peregrine Fund, and others)

6. Leaders from surrounding countries

7. Leaders in the home country

(Don’t worry if students do not get all of these – be sure to mention the top 4, though.)

Extension: 

Have students play some or all of the roles listed above.  Ask them to describe their reaction to the crisis and come up with possible solutions that would be beneficial from their point of view.  This can also be done as a "town meeting."  (Click on “Asian Vulture Crisis Town Meeting” for more information and some tips for the mediator.)