Vultures are scavengers that feast on the decaying flesh of dead animals they find lying in the open. Often vilified for their association with death and putrefaction, vultures actually play a critical role in ecosystem health by cleaning up carcasses that could harbor dangerous microorganisms, and thereby preventing the spread of disease. The importance of vultures has sadly become very clear over the past decade in the Indian subcontinent, where their numbers have dropped suddenly and precipitously. Three species of Asian vultures were placed on the international critically endangered species list, but this has had little effect. One species has seen a 99% decline in numbers since 1995. What Caused This Massive And Sudden Decline In Numbers?