News: World Wildlife Fund’s flagship report states that monitored global wildlife population has declined by 73% in the last 50 years. The report also highlights the alarming decline of three vulture species, white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, slender billed vulture, in India.
1. Living Planet Report: It is a biennial report that comprehensively studies the trends in global biodiversity and assesses the health of the planet.
2. The report is based on the Living Planet Index, which tracks changes in the population of vertebrate species around the world.
3. It is released by the World Wildlife Fund.
4. Vulture Species in India: There are 23 species of vultures in the world, out of which 9 are found in India.
5. Threats to vulture population in India include diclofenac poisoning, electrocution, collision with wind turbines, impacts of climate change.
6. The government has taken several initiates to arrest the declining vulture population, including National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-25, setting up Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres, prohibiting veterinary use of diclofenac.
