Guardians of the Ecosystem: A Traveller’s Guide to India’s 9 Vulture Species

Vultures are among the most ecologically significant avian species on the Indian subcontinent. Operating as nature's most efficient scavengers, these high-altitude raptors possess exceptionally strong digestive acids capable of safely neutralizing lethal bacteria and viruses including anthrax, cholera, and rabies that would otherwise contaminate water sources and spread through wildlife and domestic livestock populations. For centuries, millions of vultures soared across Indian skies, maintaining environmental sanitation across forests, agricultural fields, and rural villages.