Vultures are keystone scavengers facing catastrophic declines from poisoning, habitat loss, and persecution. Their loss reshapes ecosystems and creates direct welfare consequences for other species.
Vultures that die from poisoning — particularly from diclofenac — experience organ failure over hours to days. Mass poisoning events at elephant and rhino carcasses in Africa cause acute suffering for dozens to hundreds of birds simultaneously. The indirect welfare consequences of vulture decline are also significant: increased feral dog populations following vulture loss in South Asia increased rabies transmission and associated animal and human suffering. Vulture conservation is a welfare issue multiplied across an ecosystem.