Facilitate Scavenging by Vultures Without Bringing Back the Past Horrors of Vulture-Collision Induced Air Crashes 1980-1994 to Indian Aviation

Dr S. M. Satheesan's seminal work, titled "Facilitate scavenging by vultures without bringing back the past horrors of vulture-collision induced air crashes of 1980-1994 to Indian Aviation", examines the complex relationship between wildlife conservation and aviation safety. A leading researcher in Aviation Ornithology, Dr Satheesan has spent decades studying the connection between vulture ecology and flight operations, warning against the renewed risks of vulture-aircraft collisions in India.His research documents the severe impact of vulture strikes on aviation worldwide. In his paper, *Serious Vulture-Hits to Aircraft Over the World*, presented at the International Bird Strike Committee, he highlights that India alone suffered annual economic losses exceeding 70 million US dollars between 1980 and 1994 due to vulture collisions. Between 1955 and 1999, over 33 aircraft-mostly military-were destroyed or severely damaged, resulting in the loss of 21 lives.In this book, Dr. Satheesan critically challenges widely accepted explanations for vulture population decline, particularly the NSAID-Diclofenac hypothesis. He argues that factors such as poisoning, poaching, and carcass denial near aerodromes since the early 1990s played a far greater role. Instead of captive breeding programs, he advocates the establishment of Vulture Restaurants (VRs) located 100-200 km away from airports to support safe conservation and reduce aviation hazards.The book also raises concerns about conservation facilities located dangerously close to active airports, including the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre near Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, emphasizing the urgent need to balance ecological efforts with aviation safety.