Why Vultures Don't Get Sick When Eating Dead and Rotting Things

TL;DR

Vultures can eat carrion that has decayed and is infected with diseases due to their highly acidic gastric juices and strong immune systems.

Transcript

Hello, I'm Daven Hiskey, you're watching the TodayIFoundOut YouTube channel. In the video today, we're looking at why vultures don't get sick when they eat dead animals. While it's important to note that many animals eat carrion, vultures are fairly unique in that they're able to eat carrion that has succumbed to the effects of decay and disease, a... Read More

Key Insights

• 😅 Vultures' ability to eat decayed and diseased carrion is due to their highly acidic gastric juices and strong immune systems.
• 💀 Vultures' digestive systems kill most bacteria, acting as "dead-end hosts" for diseases.
• 🛻 Vultures contribute to disease control by picking carcasses clean and sterilizing their surroundings with acidic waste.
• 🥺 Decrease in vulture populations can lead to an increase in disease rates as potential carriers consume rotting carcasses.
• 🥳 India faced significant issues due to the decline in vulture populations, leading to an increase in feral dog and rat populations.
• 🤕 The anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac was toxic to vultures and contributed to their decline, leading to the ban of diclofenac in India in 2006.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why can vultures eat carrion that is decayed and infected with diseases?

Vultures have highly acidic gastric juices that kill most bacteria before it becomes harmful. Additionally, they have one of the strongest immune systems among vertebrates.

Q: Can humans eat raw meat like vultures?

Humans can eat raw meat if it is very fresh, and our gastric acid is strong enough to kill many types of microbes. However, some bacteria like the ones causing ulcers can survive our digestive juices.

Q: Do vultures eat bones?

Yes, some vultures like the bearded vulture can live on a diet of 70%-90% bone. Bones contain calories and can last indefinitely, making them a valuable food source.

Q: How do vultures contribute to disease control?

Vultures' digestive systems kill off most bacteria present in carrion, making them "dead-end hosts" for diseases. Their ability to pick carcasses clean and sterilize their surroundings with acidic waste reduces disease spread.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vultures have the ability to eat carrion that has decayed and is infected with diseases, unlike other scavengers.

• Their highly acidic gastric juices kill most bacteria before it becomes an issue, and their strong immune systems further protect them.

• Vultures' ability to eat diseased carrion is due to their ancestry and adaptations over time.