Vanishing Vultures

Vultures are nature’s most efficient scavengers—cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of deadly diseases. Yet, these silent custodians of ecological balance are vanishing. Vultures of Lalitpur explores the alarming decline of vulture populations in India and its catastrophic consequences for biodiversity and human health. The film traces the crisis back to the late 1990s, when India declared a “Vulture Alert” after an unprecedented drop in vulture numbers. What caused this sudden disappearance? And what will it mean for our ecosystem if they’re gone for good? Amidst this grim backdrop, the film takes us to **Devgarh in Lalitpur district**, one of the rare places in the world where vultures continue to **breed successfully**. Here, hope survives—in the cliffs, the skies, and the local communities that have unwittingly become vulture guardians. Through striking visuals, field observations, and ecological insights, Vultures of Lalitpur reveals how the survival of one species can safeguard the health of many—including our own. It is a compelling reminder that **their extinction could trigger epidemics**, leaving rotting carcasses and contaminated landscapes behind. This is not just a conservation story. It is a warning. It is also a call to action. *Let us live—and let them live.* Because if vultures don’t survive, neither will we.