Vultures in Europe and South Asia face welfare threats from veterinary drugs in livestock carcasses causing renal failure, most devastatingly diclofenac.
Diclofenac and similar drugs cause acute kidney failure in vultures consuming treated carcasses. Death occurs within days of ingestion and is widespread across scavenging populations. South Asian vulture declines caused by diclofenac represent the most rapid decline of any non-hunted vertebrate. European approval of diclofenac creates ongoing risk for recovering populations. Secondary poisoning and lead contamination compound the veterinary drug threat.