Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to

1. The dramatic decline in vulture populations in the Indian countryside has been primarily attributed to the veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Diclofenac. 2. Cattle owners used Diclofenac to treat their diseased cattle for inflammation and pain. 3. Vultures feeding on the carcasses of cattle recently treated with Diclofenac suffered acute kidney failure, leading to widespread mortality. 4. While factors like habitat loss (destruction of nesting sites - Option A), changes in food availability (Option C), and diseases (Option D) can affect bird populations, the catastrophic decline of Indian vultures (specifically Gyps species) was directly linked to Diclofenac poisoning. 5. The Indian government subsequently banned the veterinary use of Diclofenac to protect the remaining vulture populations.