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Heavy metal exposure and behavioral assessment of vultures in a captive environment

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Abstract

Heavy metals are a heterogeneous group of metals that can cause detrimental biological disruptions in vultures. Heavy metals play a threatening role and affect vulture populations around the globe. However, various conservation organizations are working for the captive breeding of these endangered animals so that they can reintroduce these captive-bred animals back to their natural environment. This research study was conducted at Changa Manga Vulture Conservatory, Punjab, with the help of Punjab Wildlife Department. A non-invasive technique was used to collect vulture feathers and fecal samples to study the exposure of heavy metals. The behavior of vultures in captivity was also recorded. Samples were chemically digested in aqua regia and analyzed for the detection of five heavy metal concentrations such as chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg) using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). Among the selected heavy metals, non-essential metals such as Pb, Cr, and Cd were recorded in the least concentration, whereas essential metals Zn and Mg were recorded in the highest concentration. Behavioral studies showed that vultures in captivity become excessively hostile and afraid of any human interaction; they flew to the top of the trees if they felt any danger. It was concluded in the study that the higher levels of both essential and non-essential metals recorded in feathers and fecal samples might be due to the type of feed, even though a controlled food is provided to vultures in captivity. However, regular monitoring of the environment can bring improvements to the health of vultures in captivity and help to find accurate sources of contamination.

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Acknowledgements

Wildlife officers thanked Changa Manga for their cooperation throughout the research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Lahore Garrison University, Phase VI, Sector C, DHA, Lahore, Pakistan

    Roheela Yasmeen & Laiba Asif

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  1. Roheela Yasmeen
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  2. Laiba Asif
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Roheela Yasmeen supervisor) conceived the idea, planned the study, data analysis, and write-up of the manuscript.

Laiba Asif M. Phil (scholar) collected all the samples and performed the experimental work).

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Correspondence to Roheela Yasmeen.

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Yasmeen, R., Asif, L. Heavy metal exposure and behavioral assessment of vultures in a captive environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 68096–68102 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20656-6

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