India, March 3 -- Despite the widespread illegal use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat sick domestic animals by local farmers and veterinarians and smoke emanating from climate change-induced wildfires, the vulture population in southern part of India has nearly stabilised, according to early indications from a just-concluded synchronised survey of these winged scavengers.

Scattered across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBS), one of the country's largest environmental hotspots, these bird scavengers are crucial in maintaining the region's ecological balance and helping augment public health.

According to the researchers who took part in the census conducted in Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves in Tamil...