[Buddha-l] Re: [Photographs of] Tibetan Sky Burial

[Andrew Skilton]

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 jkirk wrote:

>The Parsis also practice sky burial, differently arranged, but lately in 
Mumbai the necesary vultures are dying out, people think from environmental 
poisoning of some kind.

The toxic agent is a moderately potent painkiller called sodium diclofenac. It
is potentially harmful to the consumer's liver and kidneys, and hence those of
the consumer of the consumer. Thus improvements in medical provision in Mumbai
are bad news for vultures. (So, Joanna, when I go, don't put me out for the
birds.)

Andrew



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Andrew Skilton 

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