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Saving India's Vultures: Nitish Agrawal's conservation mission in Rewa

Nitish's vulture conservation initiatives face cultural challenges, including concerns about religious sensitivities and traditional beliefs.

By Pallav Jain & Chandrapratap Tiwari 30 Apr 2025

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In the 1990s, India's vulture population faced a catastrophic decline, bringing these majestic scavengers to the brink of extinction. Today, Madhya Pradesh boasts over 12,000 vultures—the highest count nationwide—thanks to dedicated conservation efforts championing their ecological importance.

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Nitish Agrawal, co-founder of 'The Last Vulture' in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, is at the forefront of this revival. Each morning, he meticulously documents vulture activities, population trends, and behaviours, firmly believing these birds are essential to human existence and ecosystem health.

Seven vulture species soar through Madhya Pradesh's skies: four native and three migratory. The Indian species include the white-rumped, Indian, red-headed, and Egyptian vultures. Migratory species comprise the Eurasian griffon, cinereous vulture, and Himalayan griffon.

According to the IUCN Red List, three Indian vulture species—white-rumped, Indian, and red-headed—remain critically endangered, while the Egyptian vulture is classified as endangered. Among migratory species, the Eurasian griffon faces minimal threats, but the cinereous and Himalayan griffons fall into the near-threatened category.

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Vultures play an irreplaceable ecological role. These scavengers consume animal carcasses, cleanse the landscape of decomposing remains, and prevent deadly diseases like anthrax and rabies from spreading. Their service proves particularly crucial during dry seasons when wildlife mortality peaks.

Rewa's favourable conditions have contributed to its growing vulture population, and Nitish works tirelessly to sustain this progress. He educates villagers about their potential contribution to vulture conservation by placing cattle carcasses where vultures can safely feed on them.

The primary factor behind the vulture population collapse was the widespread use of diclofenac, a veterinary drug that caused acute kidney failure in vultures that consumed treated carcasses. This devastation reduced vulture numbers by over 97%, disrupting natural carcass disposal systems and increasing public health risks.

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Despite being banned, these harmful drugs remain available. Many stakeholders—pharmacists, farmers, veterinarians, cow protectors, and the general public—remain unaware of their devastating impact on vultures. Safer alternatives like Milasic Vulture Medicine now exist and should replace harmful painkillers immediately.

Nitish's conservation initiatives face cultural challenges, including concerns about religious sensitivities and traditional beliefs. Nonetheless, his program has expanded to include vulture safaris, nature walks, and educational outreach targeted at locals, tourists, and students. He motivates villagers to dispose of cattle carcasses appropriately and raises awareness about harmful drugs and pesticides.

Though relatively new, Nitish's passionate approach promises a significant long-term impact. While conservation efforts continue across India, a more coordinated, serious commitment is necessary to pull these vital scavengers back from endangered status.

With continued monitoring and fostering positive public attitudes toward vultures, there's hope that these ecological custodians will once again thrive throughout India, performing their essential role in maintaining environmental balance.

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