Kanchanpur, Aug 31: The world’s rare and critically endangered white-rumped vultures have started nesting in the Shuklaphanta National Park and its surroundings, making conservationists excited.
Hirulal Dagaura, an ornithologist at the Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), said that there are 114 nests of white-rumped vultures in the park and its surrounding areas. According to him, there are 82 species of the vulture in Bhatpuriphanta of the park, 17 in Tarapur, one in Bansah outside the park, and one in Parsia.
“The vultures have built more nests than in the past”, he said, “We are very excited that its conservation over the years has had its effect.” Three nests of small gray vultures were found in Bhatpuriphanta and one in Hirapurphanta, he informed.
“During the survey, two vulture nests were found in Dadeldhura and 12 in the bird and biodiversity area in Kailali,” he said, “we found nine vulture nests in Baitadi.” The areas where vultures have nested are being monitored regularly, he added. According to him, white-rumped, small gray, and golden vultures are critically endangered and the white vulture is in critical condition.
Nine species of vultures are found in Nepal. According to him, the number of vultures is increasing due to a blanket ban on the production, sale, distribution and use of diclofenac drug for animal treatment, veterinary monitoring, releasing vultures into the environment after satellite tracking, and the establishment of safe feeding centers and habitat improvement.
Awareness activities being organized at the community level have also helped in the protection of vultures, he added. In the 1990s, it was found that the number of vultures had dramatically decreased by 99 percent, and according to a survey conducted by the Bird Conservation Nepal from 2002 to 2010, it was found that the white-rumped vulture decreased by 91 percent and the small gray vulture by 96 percent.
