Kathmandu: Recent deaths of 67 vultures in Jitpur, Nawalparasi (West) has startled many Wildlife Conservationists and Specialists.
As many as 33 white-rumped, 31 Himalayan griffons, two cinereous vultures and one slender-billed vulture were found dead, according to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Talking about the possible reasons for the highly endangered birds’ death, vulture conservation specialist at Bird Conservation Nepal Ankit Bilas Joshi, said that the birds might have fed on the remains of the dogs who were possibly poisoned.
It’s not that the government is not aware of this situation and it is not doing anything for the protection of the endangered birds.
The wildlife conservationists, however, believe that the efforts from the government side are not enough.
“In a bid to preserve the vultures, the government in the year 2006 took a major step by putting a ban on the production of veterinary diclofenac as it is extremely harmful to the vultures,” said Joshi.
The government also established a Vulture Breeding Center in Kasara, Chitwan National Park, with a motive to increase the number of vultures.
According to Haribhadra Acharya, an ecologist and information officer at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, reproduced vultures are after a certain period of time, released in the wild to help stabilize the vulture population, he added.
After losing 67 vultures of various species, many wildlife conservationists have expressed the worry that the incident might have rendered a severe blow to the vulture conservation drive in the country.
Likewise, the government also introduced Vulture Conservation Action Plan (2009 – 2013) and (2015 – 2019) in order to protect the endangered vultures in Nepal and roped in seven communities to manage Vulture Safe Feeding Sites for providing better and safe food for the vultures in Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Dang, Kailali, Kaski and Sunsari districts between 2007 and 2013.
Joshi further reiterated that the plans introduced by the government were instrumental in increasing the number of vultures in Nepal.
Aftermaths
Among the vultures found dead, 64 are listed as critically endangered and three as threatened.
After losing 67 vultures of various species, many wildlife conservationists have expressed the worry that the incident might have rendered a severe blow to the vulture conservation drive in the country.
Joshi mentioned that after implementing the action plan introduced by the government, the vulture population was stable, but after this catastrophic incident, the number might decline significantly.
Acharya also said this incident definitely affected the count of vultures but the intensity of the effect caused by the incident can still not be determined.
“The incident has definitely affected the ecosystem, but we will not be able to know in detail before one-two years,” he said.
He also informed that 98% of the vultures are already extinct even before the incident, but even the loss of these vultures will affect the natural recycling of corpses and prevention of diseases like cholera and rabies in that area.
Further steps
According to Joshi, BCN will be conducting the Road Transit Survey in forests along the Mechi-Mahakali Highway to ascertain the number of vultures in the near future.
Likewise, Acharya also said that the government would spread awareness about the need of protecting the vulture and their role in keeping the environment clean.
Furthermore, the government will give continuation to the current program introduced in a bid to protect vultures across the country, said Acharya.
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