News Humans

Another livestock drug endangers vultures

Potential replacement for bird-killing veterinary NSAID turns out to be toxic too

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Oops. The drug ketoprofen, which conservationists once hoped might aid South Asia’s collapsing vulture populations, has turned out to be yet another poison for the birds.

TROUBLE FOR VULTURES Slender-billed vultures have declined dramatically in South Asia since the 1990s as farmers increased their use of a livestock drug that leaves toxic residues in carcasses.