Stripes vs Stripes!

The Striped Hyena of India is not only an efficient scavenger but some large specimens have also been reported to hunt their own prey. These animals are considered cowards by folklore, due to their habit of feigning death when attacked. In actuality, they are known to be quite fearless, even standing their ground against predators like leopards in disputes over a kill. Striped Hyenas are the smallest of the true hyenas, retaining viverrid characteristics that are lost in the larger species. Pairs are monogamous, assisting one another in raising the pups.


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Doctor Plover!

Symbiosis- a relationship in which both partners benefit from each other. One such example is that of the Nile Crocodile and the Egyptian Plover. The crocodile opens its mouth wide to let the plover in. the plover gets a free meal by cleaning the crocodile’s teeth clear of food debris, not getting eaten in return and not even paying the bills for its meal. Considering the fact that crocodiles love rotten, decaying meat, the plover's job doesn't seem to be one for the squeamish!

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Safety in numbers

Safety in numbers is a protective measure adopted by many animals for surviving in the harsh natural world. It is best seen in herds of herbivores such as deer and antelope. These creatures feed and roam about in large herds, and when one eats, the other is vigilant about predators. This phenomenon also helps the animals to trick predators, as choosing a specific target from a large herd often becomes very difficult.

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Vulture table manners pre and post diclofenac

In the last two decades, there has been almost a 90% decline in the vulture populations of the sub continent. Several species that were once abundant such as the Gyps vultures are now nearing extinction. The culprit for this has been identified as Diclofenac Sodium, an anti-inflammatory drug that is used to treat ailments in cattle. When vultures consume carcasses of cattle treated with diclofenac, it causes poisoning, gout, kidney failure and death. Meloxicam has been made available as an alternative after the banning of diclofenac, but since the drug is expensive, diclofenac is still being used illegally.

Here's another one on the Diclofenac debacle.


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Desperate Measures-2

A vulture using a lab rat to check if the carcass contains diclofenac :)

Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat cattle (also used as NSAID for humans as Diclofenac sodium). This drug has been responsible for mass deaths of Gyps vultures throughout south Asia. Vultures that feed on cattle carcasses containing Diclofenac (also Ketoprofen) suffer from gout and subsequent kidney failure. From 1993 to 2003, Diclofenace wiped out vulture populations by almost 99 percent, endangering several species that were earlier our most common vultures such as the White-backed and the Long-billed Vultures. Veterinary Diclofenac is now banned, and an alternative to it, Meloxicam has been made available, but Diclofenac is still being used illegally as it is cheaper than its substitute, and the threat to our vultures' existence still persists.


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