There are over 500 million livestock in India, and without infrastructure to dispose of dead livestock animals, pastoralism has historically depended on vultures (Gyps sp.) as environmental sanitizers. In their absence, carcasses of dead animals spend time out in the open or are disposed by farmers in water, both of which create an increased risk of disease and water pollution. This carrion also creates a new source of food for dogs and rats, increasing their population. Feral dogs and rats are a major source of rabies infections a known public health issue in India. Rabies infection is lethal unless vaccination immediately after exposure. The collapse in India’s vulture population occurred because of unintended poisoning following the availability of cheap generic versions of diclofenac for human use till 2008
