Data Zone
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
Rasmussen, P. C.; Parry, S. J. 2001. The taxonomic status of the "Long-billed" Vulture Gyps indicus. Vulture News 44: 18-21.
| Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| A2abce+4abce | A2abce+4abce | A2abce+4abce |
| Year | Category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Critically Endangered | A2abce+4abce |
| 2017 | Critically Endangered | A2bce+4bce |
| 2016 | Critically Endangered | A2bce+4bce |
| 2015 | Critically Endangered | A2bce+4bce |
| 2013 | Critically Endangered | A2bce+4bce |
| 2012 | Critically Endangered | A2bce+4bce |
| 2010 | Critically Endangered | A2b,c,e; A4b,c,e |
| 2009 | Critically Endangered | A2b,c,e; A4b,c,e |
| 2008 | Critically Endangered | |
| 2004 | Critically Endangered | |
| 2002 | Critically Endangered | |
| 2000 | Not Recognised | |
| 1994 | Not Recognised | |
| 1988 | Not Recognised |
| Migratory status | not a migrant | Forest dependency | low |
| Land-mass type |
continent |
Average mass | 5,515 g |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 2,150,000 km2 | medium |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population size | 5000-15000 mature individuals | medium | estimated | 2019 |
| Population trend | decreasing | medium | estimated | 2000-2036 |
| Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 95-99% | - | - | - |
| Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) | 95-99% | - | - | - |
| Generation length | 12.03 years | - | - | - |
Population justification: Prakash et al. (2019) estimated the population to be c.12,000 individuals based on road transects carried out in 2015. This roughly equates to 8,000 mature individuals. It is placed in the band 5,000-15,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification: Survey results indicate that declines throughout the Indian Subcontinent probably began in the 1990s and were extremely rapid, resulting in an overall population decline of Gyps indicus and G. tenuirostris (which was only recognised as a separate species in 2001) of greater than 97% over a 10-15 year period (Prakash et al. 2007), equating to 99% over three generations (36.09 years [Bird et al. 2020]). The combined population appeared to be relatively stable from 2003-2011 (Prakash et al. 2012) (although Tatu et al. [2012] recorded a decline of 29.5% in Gyps indicus in Gujarat, India, during 2005-2010), but declined again during 2011-2015, with a mean rate of decline from 2000-2015 of c.11% per year (Prakash et al. 2019), equating to 98.5% over three generations. The frequency of reports of Indian Vulture sightings on eBird declined by c.90% during 2000-2018, further indicating a steep population decline (SoIB 2020). Surveys of breeding populations in two neighbouring Indian states during 2007-2016 found that the two populations were on different trajectories - one remained relatively stable, while the other progressively declined (McClure et al. 2021). Surveys in Pakistan found that vulture abundance declined by c.60% in the three years before the ban on veterinary diclofenac, but showed a recovery in the 2 years following the ban (Chaudhry et al. 2012)
| Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | extant | uncertain | yes | |||
| India | extant | native | yes | |||
| Nepal | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Pakistan | extant | native | yes |
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Pastureland | suitable | resident |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Urban Areas | suitable | resident |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | suitable | resident |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | suitable | resident |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | major | breeding | |
| Savanna | Dry | suitable | resident |
| Shrubland | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | suitable | resident |
| Altitude | 0 - 2000 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Unintentional effects (species is not the target) | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
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| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
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| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
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| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
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| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Negligible declines | Low Impact: 4 | ||||||
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| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
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| Other options | Other threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Very Rapid Declines | High Impact: 8 | ||||||
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| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
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| Purpose | Scale |
|---|---|
| Pets/display animals, horticulture | international |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Indian Vulture Gyps indicus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/indian-vulture-gyps-indicus on 25/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 25/12/2024.