State government mulls ban on second drug to save vultures

After banning the veterinary painkiller Diclofenac as a measure to stop the extinction of vultures in the state, the state government is mulling the ban of another painkiller used on cattle.

According to the letter, Aceclofenac, used to treat cattle is equally dangerous, as it metabolises into diclofenac, which is fatal to vultures. Hence, the study asks that the drug be banned. Representation pic

The Secretary of Animal Husbandry has written a letter to veterinarians across the state asking them not to use a drug called Aceclofenac, as it can be potentially dangerous to vultures that feed on cattle carcasses.

The department of Animal Husbandry distributed the letter to all veterinary colleges after an independent research by author Pradeep Sharma showed the negative impact of aceclofenac on vultures.

Speaking to MiD DAY, an official from the Animal Husbandry Department said, "We received a letter from an independent research stating that aceclofenac was dangerous to vultures. He also asked us to request all veterinary colleges to stop using this drug to reduce the mortality levels among vultures."

The letter, copy of which is available with MiD DAY, states that, ‘All veterinary colleges should read research papers and the letter carefully and should respond to the Animal Husbandry Department with their views on using the drug.'

The official letter comes after advocate Jahul Khan wrote a letter after the research by Sharma was published. The report further explains how aceclofenac could be dangerous to vultures.

'The aceclofenac, used to treat cattle is equally dangerous, as it metabolises into diclofenac. Aceclofenac bears a close structural and pharmacological resemblance to diclofenac.'