Bald head: A particular characteristic of many vultures is a
bald head, devoid of feathers. A feathered head would become
splattered with blood and other fluids during feeding, and thus
be difficult to keep clean. A bald head allows for quick
cleaning in a nearby river. Prey: Vultures seldom attack a
healthy living animal, but may kill the wounded or sick. Vast
numbers have been seen upon battlefields. Table Manners: They
gorge themselves when prey is abundant, and then sit, sleepy or
half torpid, to digest their food. They do not carry food to
their young in their claws, but disgorge it from the crop. These
birds are of great value as scavengers, especially in hot
regions. Endangered: The vulture population in India has
declined by up to 95% recently and two or three of the species
of vulture in South Asia are nearing extinction. The cause was
the practice of giving working animals the non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drug diclofenac, which has a pain killing action.
Diclofenac administration keeps animals th