Vulture Feeding ground in Kawasoti, Nawalpur. Photo by Mirjam Ruf

Tucked away within the majestic mountains and verdant valleys of Nepal lies a world where the sky is ruled by magnificent creatures – the vultures. These birds, often overlooked or misunderstood, are majestic sky guardians of the Nepalese wilderness.

Imagine yourself standing on a mountainside, gazing up at the vast expanse of blue above. Suddenly, a shadow passes overhead, and you look up to see a Himalayan Griffon Vulture gliding effortlessly on the wind. With its broad wings and graceful flight, it's a sight to behold. These vultures, with their white neck ruff and piercing gaze, are nature's cleanup crew, keeping the mountains clean by feasting on the remains of animals. But there's more to Nepal's vultures than meets the eye. Among them is the Red-headed Vulture, a bird with a striking appearance – its deep red head and neck stand out against its dark brown body.

Despite their intimidating looks, these vultures are gentle giants, playing a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of nature by disposing of carcasses and preventing the spread of disease.

Yet, these magnificent birds face an uncertain future. Habitat loss, poisoning, and a decline in their food sources have taken a toll on vulture populations across Nepal. It's a race against time to save these incredible creatures from disappearing forever. Thankfully, there is hope on the horizon. Conservationists and local communities are joining forces to protect vultures and their habitats. They're creating safe havens where vultures can feed and breed without fear, and they're raising awareness about the importance of these birds in the ecosystem.

Declining of Vulture’s population In Nepal

Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used in veterinary medicine, poses a severe threat to vultures. When vultures fed on carcasses of animals treated with diclofenac, they suffered renal failure and eventually died. The widespread use of diclofenac led to a sharp increase in vulture mortalities, decimating populations across Nepal.

Vultures faced intentional poisoning and persecution, often as a result of conflicts with humans. Poison baits set out to target predators or scavengers inadvertently killed vultures, while deliberate killings occurred due to misconceptions and cultural beliefs surrounding these birds.

The combination of diclofenac contamination, habitat loss, poisoning, reduced food availability, and insufficient conservation efforts resulted in a rapid decline in vulture populations across Nepal. Urgent action was needed to address these threats and implement effective conservation measures to ensure the survival of these vital scavengers.

Actions taken for the preservation of Vultures

A survey of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) was conducted to determine if diclofenac is still being sold in local markets and to assess the extent to which the vulture-safe alternative, meloxicam, has replaced diclofenac in communities. The survey included unannounced visits by project personnel to inspect various NSAID brands and their availability in stock.

During the initial phase of the survey, 61 veterinary pharmacies were examined in the project area. All of them were found to stock the vulture-safe drug meloxicam, except for one that had diclofenac intended for human use in its inventory. Upon discovery, the human diclofenac was promptly replaced with meloxicam, and the vendor was cautioned that their license would be revoked if reported to the government.

Subsequently, the second phase of the survey was conducted between November 2010 and January 2011. Among the 53 veterinary outlets surveyed (including the one previously found with diclofenac), none were found selling diclofenac, and all were found to stock meloxicam. The fact that only one vendor was found to be selling diclofenac, compared to several in previous years, indicates progress toward achieving the project's objectives. Despite efforts to ensure compliance, there remains a risk of diclofenac being illicitly sold in certain areas, emphasizing the ongoing need for vigilance.

On May 6, 2010, an event was organized where veterinary practitioners came together to kickstart the project. They made a promise to ensure that the district remained free of diclofenac. Later, on December 6 and 7, 2010, two separate events were held in Kawasoti and Arunkhola to accommodate the busy schedules of the participating veterinarians.

At total of twenty seven veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and drug sellers attended these events.

On January 16, 2011, the district of Nawalparasi (now Nawalpur) was officially designated as a Diclofenac Free Zone (DFZ) under the guidance of local government authorities. Before this declaration, awareness events were held for veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and sellers of veterinary drugs. These events took place after receiving written commitments from participants promising not to use diclofenac. Additionally, twelve other districts across Nepal were also designated as DFZs through associated projects.

Vulture Feeding Restaurant in Nawalpur

The Jatayu Vulture Restaurant in Nawalpur, Nepal, is an innovative community-led project established in 2006 to address the decline in vulture populations. Situated in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, this restaurant offers a safe feeding ground for vultures, drawing attention from tourists and conservationists worldwide. The concept behind this unique conservation initiative emerged in response to the drastic reduction in Nepal's vulture numbers, which dropped from over a million in the 1980s to approximately 20,000 due to factors such as diclofenac use.

To counter this decline, Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary established the Jatayu Restaurant, named after a vulture deity from Hindu mythology, to provide vultures with a sustainable food source and raise conservation awareness among young people.

The operation of the vulture restaurant involves purchasing aging cattle that are no longer economically viable for farmers and offering them as food for vultures after their natural demise. This approach not only ensures a safe food supply for vultures but alleviates the financial burden of maintaining elderly livestock for farmers.

The success of the Jatayu Vulture Restaurant is evident in the significant rise in the population of white-rumped vultures between 2014 and 2017, with vultures from this restaurant even being observed as far as Pakistan. Moreover, the restaurant generates income through various activities such as selling cattle skin, dung for compost, and providing hospitality services like homestays for tourists and researchers. The bones remaining from the carcasses are collected and sold to poultry feed producers, establishing a sustainable resource utilization cycle.

The Jatayu Vulture Restaurant has not only played a crucial role in vulture conservation but also served as a model for similar projects across Nepal. Other vulture restaurants have been established in regions like Rupandehi, Dang, Kailali, Kaski, and Sunsari, demonstrating the effectiveness of community-driven conservation efforts. This initiative highlights the potential for sustainable wildlife conservation through innovative approaches such as vulture-feeding restaurants.

In conclusion, the efforts to protect vultures in Nepal exemplify the power of community-driven conservation initiatives and innovative approaches. Through projects like the Jatayu Vulture Restaurant in Nawalpur, significant strides have been made in reversing the decline of vulture populations and raising awareness about their importance in the ecosystem.

These initiatives not only provide a sustainable food source for vultures but also address economic challenges faced by local communities and promote environmental stewardship among the youth.

The success of vulture protection efforts in Nepal is a testament to the effectiveness of collaborative conservation strategies, where government agencies, conservation organizations, local communities, and individuals work together towards a common goal. By harnessing the collective knowledge, resources, and passion of stakeholders, Nepal has set a remarkable example for wildlife conservation worldwide.