At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Stable
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The slender-billed vulture is an Asian scavenging vulture that suffered a catastrophic decline alongside other South Asian vultures. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It was hit hard by poisoning from a veterinary drug.
Range & habitat
South and Southeast Asia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Poisoning, including veterinary drugs in carcasses
- Reduced food
- Habitat change
Why it matters
Part of the South Asian vulture collapse, the slender-billed vulture underscores how a single drug devastated the continent's scavengers.
Sources
Sources for Slender-billed Vulture
- IUCN Red List — look up Slender-billed Vulture (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the slender-billed vulture's decline?
Published accounts point above all to the veterinary drug diclofenac in livestock carcasses, which poisoned several Asian vulture species and caused catastrophic declines.
Why is the slender-billed vulture Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite poisoning, reduced food, and habitat change. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: