Vultures from Spain

The following news item appeared in the Bangalore edition of The Times of India dated May 5, 2007: "Huge flocks of starving vultures have started attacking live animals in northern Spain, officials in the city of Burnos said on Thursday. In one incident, about 100 vultures killed a cow and her newborn calf, a rancher from the Mena Valley said, according to the Spanish government’s office in Burgos, quoted by the state news agency EFE. Ranchers have complained that vultures started attacking livestock several months ago when a feeding station set up in the Ordunte mountains was closed by the neighboring province of Vizcaya. Vultures prefer to feed on the carcasses of dead animals, but carrion is scarce in modern Spain.”

If we import these vultures, three objectives will be served: our dakhmenashini problem in Bombay, Poona and other cities would be solved as dakhmas without vultures would get fresh birds; Spain’s problem would end and that country will happily give us the birds free of cost; and the birds would be saved should the Spanish authorities think of destroying them. The birds would also get a regular supply of carcasses here.

We must urgently contact the embassy or consulate of Spain in India and evince an interest in acquiring these birds. The Bombay Natural History Society may also be approached to lend its weight to the project so that even at the national level vulture starved areas can be repopulated. Of course, the logistics of transporting the birds to India and completing other governmental formalities will have to be worked out.

JAMSHED N. BILLIMORIA

Bangalore