Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (74557)	7/29/2006 5:47:06 AM
From: T L Comiskey	Respond to of 361858

Nepali attempt to save vultures By Charles Haviland BBC News, Kathmandu A new initiative to save critically endangered species of vultures is under way in Nepal. A company has launched a veterinary drug to replace diclofenac, whose residues accumulate in dead livestock and kill vultures at an alarming rate. Vultures are a vital part of the ecology in South Asia. The scavenging birds' rapid and efficient consumption of animal carcasses has traditionally prevented the spread of disease. But in the past 10 years the numbers of three local vulture species have declined by more than 90%. Main culprit They are now threatened with total extinction. Two years ago, researchers working in Pakistan discovered that diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug used in livestock, was poisoning and killing vultures. Now Nepal's largest veterinary pharmaceutical company has introduced a new drug containing meloxicam, which will treat livestock effectively but also be safe for scavenging birds. A senior government official said that in due course this new drug, marketed as Melox, would completely replace diclofenac. The government recently said it would stop the latter production and importation of diclofenac. Nepalese bird conservation groups are hopeful the safe drug will spread, and are also involved in community-level initiatives to conserve vultures. There are plans to emulate India and build a breeding centre. Story from BBC NEWS: news.bbc.co.uk Published: 2006/07/29 07:25:23 GMT