Question: Recently Bangladesh cabinet approved a proposal to stop the production of which vulture toxic drug in the country?
a) Hydrocodone
b) Tramadol
c) Ketoprofen
d) Fentanyl
Answer: (c)
Related Facts:
- On 08 February 2021; Bangladesh cabinet approved a proposal to stop the production of Ketoprofen drug in the country.
- It is in an effort to save the critically endangered vultures in this country.
- With this decision Bangladesh has become the first country to ban painkiller ketoprofen.
- This painkiller is widely used to treat cattle. But this painkiller is toxic to vultures.
- It should be known that Earlier, diclofenac was also banned some 10 years ago.
- It is being considered as a historic step to save the remaining population of threatened vultures globally.
- Experts are of the view that similar steps need to be taken by India, Pakistan, Nepal and Cambodia to save the vulture population.
- Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) report states that ketoprofen is widely used as a main anti-inflammatory drug in Bangladesh.
- Ornithologists made it absolutely clear that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac and ketoprofen are a major threat to vultures in South Asia.
- Efforts of other countries:-
- The government of India banned the use of diclofenac for veterinary purposes in the year 2006.
- Although other toxic drugs still in use in the country but India also came forward to do something seriously for the preservation of this important scavenger bird.
- In the Arabian Peninsula Oman became the first country in December 2020, where veterinary use of diclofenac was banned.
- This was also seen as serious step for the preservation of endangered species such as vultures.