African and Asian vulture populations are crashing due to poisoning, both intentional and incidental. Their welfare and ecological role make this crisis a conservation emergency.
Vulture poisoning causes large-scale, prolonged welfare harm. Lead poisoning from ammunition in carcasses causes neurological damage and a slow death over days. Carbofuran and other agricultural poisons cause violent death within minutes to hours. Diclofenac causes kidney failure and gout — a painful multi-day death. The scale of poisoning events — hundreds of birds killed at single carcasses — means enormous suffering concentrated in brief events. Banning veterinary diclofenac, promoting lead-free ammunition, and anti-poaching enforcement all directly reduce this welfare crisis.