The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has begun creating Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) in the state to protect vultures from threats. A major danger to vultures is toxic veterinary drugs called NSAIDs, such as diclofenac, used on cattle. These drugs cause many vulture deaths. The first VSZ will be near the Moyar River Valley in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve. This is part of the “Vision Document for Vulture Conservation (VDVC) in Tamil Nadu 2025-30.” This update was given to the Madras High Court by Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden. The report responds to a public interest petition by K. Surya Kumar to save vultures from mass deaths. Mr. Dogra said, “Strict vigil would be kept to prevent the use of the banned NSAIDs by veterinarians.” A special field-level committee, led by the Field Director of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, is in charge. It includes forest officers from Nilgiris, Gudalur, Coimbatore, and Erode, plus deputies from nearby tiger reserves and a representative from the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation in Vandalur. The committee is instructed to create maps marking vulture nesting and habitat sites. They will monitor carcass hotspots to declare safe zones. “The committee will put in place a system for taking samples of carcasses and get them analysed for the purpose of finding traces of the banned NSAIDs,” Mr. Dogra told the court. They will also inspect drug retailers with the help of the Drug Controller to take legal action. A 100-km radius around the Moyar vulture nesting area will be closely watched for two years to gather scientific data. Around 800 carcass samples will be tested for banned drugs during this time. Similar requests will be made to neighboring states Karnataka and Kerala after detailed mapping. The Chief Justice’s Bench accepted the status report and allowed Mr. S.P. Chockalingam, counsel for the petitioner, time till February 2, 2026, to review the documents and suggest any further steps.