After Lanka Pati Ravana abducted Mata Sita, it was Giddharaj Jatayu, who fought against Ravana, but Ravana had cut the left wing of Jatayu and successfully flew away. Having the blessings of Mata Sita, Jatayu sustained his life till he met Bhagwan Ram and signalled him regarding the direction of Ravana. The tale you just heard was not about the abduction of Maa Sita, but about Giddharaj Jatayu. Giddhs that are vultures hold a special space in the ecosystem and that has been signified well in the Sanatan Dharma. And tell me who can understand the significance of a species mentioned in the Ramayan other than Yogi Adityanath.
Vultures: The hero of the ecosystem
The species is synonymous with death and gluttony, and their number is on a catastrophic decline. The species prevents the carcass from turning into a toxic soup. They have such a digestive system that it can stop bacterial colonies of the plague, anthrax and botulism. Studies suggest that they keep rabies infection in check by depriving rats and dogs of bountiful food.
The bird species termed as the hero of the ecosystem has been the victim of the misdeeds of humans. The species is of Vultures, a bald, slouchy-looking bird that perches on dead trees, with wing spans reaching up to 3 metres. In the modern western world, the vultures are looked down upon and are viewed with disdain. They look at the species as dirty, ugly and unhygienic while failing to recognise its importance. However, this is not the case with the followers of Sanatan Dharma, and CM Yogi’s recent actions prove that.
CM Yogi to inaugurate the world’s first Vulture conservation centre
The dwindling population of vultures has been a major concern in India. Contrary to the world, the government of Indian states have started working towards the conservation of species. And the first one to gain praise for this is the Uttar Pradesh government with chief minister Yogi Adityanath at the helm of affairs.
The Uttar Pradesh government is constructing the world’s first Vulture conservation and breeding centre in Gorakhpur. The centre will be inaugurated by CM Yogi himself on September 3, which also marks International Vulture Awareness Day.
Also Read: Yogi, Himanta and Fadnavis – The three pillars of BJP’s future national leadership
Vulture apocalypse needs serious attention
In India, we have around 9 species of Vultures. Since the 1990s the Vulture population has come down by 97 per cent in India, and most of the species around the world are on the verge of extinction. To add on to the challenge, restoration of their population will be an uphill task, as vultures are slow breeders. There are several reasons responsible for the decline of the population, ranging from shock to poison.
One of the major concerns behind the decline in numbers is electrocution. The rapid electrification of Africa and Asia has resulted in a slow, protracted and agonising death of many vultures.
However, in India, the prominent factor behind the population crash lies in the high-scale use of diclofenac. Diclofenac is a widely used drug to treat pain and inflammation in cattle, the chemical however persists in the body of cattle even after their death. The drug ultimately overloads the kidneys of birds after eating the carcass. Though the anti-inflammatory drug has now been banned, other equally harmful drugs are still in use.
While the bird is crucial for funerary customs for groups like Parsis and the inhabitants of the Tibetan Plateau, it is even more crucial for sustaining the ecosystem of the earth. And the efforts of CM Yogi are surely going to bring in some positive change.
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