Vultures play a critical role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, as they help clean up the environment by consuming dead animals. However, the populations of vultures in Nepal have declined significantly in recent years due to various factors, including habitat loss and the use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac in livestock.
There are five species of vultures found in Nepal, namely the White-rumped Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, and Cinereous Vulture. Let's take a closer look at each species and its status and habitat in Nepal:
White-rumped Vulture:
The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is the most common species of vulture found in Nepal. This species is critically endangered due to the use of Diclofenac in livestock, which has caused a decline in their population of over 99% in some areas. The White-rumped Vulture is found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, forests, and scrublands.
Slender-billed Vulture:
The Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) is also critically endangered, with a population decline of over 99% in Nepal. This species is impacted by the use of Diclofenac in livestock, and they are also facing threats from habitat loss and hunting. The Slender-billed Vulture is found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, forests, and wetlands.
Himalayan Griffon Vulture:
The Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is the largest of the vultures found in Nepal, and it is classified as Near Threatened. While the population of this species has not declined as severely as the other two species, it is still facing threats from habitat loss, hunting, and poisoning. The Himalayan Griffon Vulture is found in a variety of habitats, including mountains, forests, and grasslands.
Eurasian Griffon Vulture:
The Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a large vulture found in Nepal, and it is classified as Near Threatened. This species is found in a variety of habitats, including mountains, forests, and grasslands. The population of Eurasian Griffon Vultures in Nepal is relatively stable, but they are still facing threats from habitat loss and poisoning.
Cinereous Vulture:
The Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) is the largest vulture found in Nepal, and it is classified as Near Threatened. This species is found in a variety of habitats, including mountains, forests, and grasslands. The population of Cinereous Vultures in Nepal is relatively stable, but they are still facing threats from habitat loss and poisoning.
Vultures are facing a severe crisis in Nepal, with the populations of all five vulture species declining rapidly in recent years. According to a survey conducted by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) in 2019, the population of the White-rumped Vulture has declined by 91%, the Slender-billed Vulture by 97%, and the Indian Vulture by 94% since the mid-1990s. The primary cause of this decline is the use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac in livestock. When vultures consume carcasses of livestock that have been treated with Diclofenac, they suffer from renal failure and die within a few days.
The decline in vulture populations has had a severe impact on the ecosystem, as vultures play a critical role in cleaning up the environment by consuming dead animals. The Government of Nepal, in collaboration with various non-governmental organizations, has taken several measures to conserve these vultures. One of the notable initiatives is the Vulture Conservation Action Plan (VCAP) launched in 2009 by the Ministry of Forests and Environment. The VCAP aims to conserve vultures through the following measures:
Establishment of Vulture Safe Zones: The Government of Nepal has established several Vulture Safe Zones, which are areas where the use of Diclofenac in livestock is banned. These zones provide a safe habitat for vultures to breed and thrive. As of 2021, there are six Vulture Safe Zones established in Nepal, covering an area of 127,523 hectares. The Vulture Safe Zones have been successful in increasing the breeding populations of vultures.
Conservation Breeding Programs: The Government of Nepal and non-governmental organizations have established conservation breeding programs to increase the population of vultures. These programs involve the captive breeding of vultures and releasing them into the wild once they are mature enough. The Himalayan Vulture Conservation Program, established by Bird Conservation Nepal, is one such program that has successfully bred and released vultures into the wild.
Public Awareness Campaigns: The Government of Nepal and non-governmental organizations have launched public awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of vultures and the impact of Diclofenac on their populations. These campaigns aim to reduce the use of Diclofenac in livestock and encourage people to report vulture deaths. The Vulture Conservation Campaign launched by Bird Conservation Nepal and Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) campaign launched by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is some of the successful public awareness campaigns.
As a result of these conservation practices, there have been some success stories in the recovery of vulture populations in Nepal. The populations of the White-rumped Vulture and the Slender-billed Vulture, which were on the brink of extinction, have shown signs of recovery in recent years. According to the latest survey conducted in 2019, the population of the White-rumped Vulture has increased by 16% since 2016, and the Slender-billed Vulture has increased by 8% since 2018. The establishment of Vulture Safe Zones and the ban on the use of Diclofenac in livestock have played a significant role in this recovery.
The government of Nepal has partnered with several non-governmental organizations in the conservation of vultures. Bird Conservation Nepal, WWF Nepal, and National Trust for Nature Conservation are some of the prominent NGOs working towards the conservation of vultures in Nepal. The partnerships have been successful in implementing conservation measures and raising awareness about the importance of vultures in the ecosystem. The efforts made by the government and NGOs have been instrumental in the recovery of vulture populations in Nepal, and serve as a model for vulture conservation efforts in other parts of the world.
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- Subedi, T. R., Giri, J. B., Koirala, R. K., & Pradhan, N. M. B. (2020). Conservation of endangered vultures in Nepal: A review. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 12(1), 15106-15113.
- Acharya, R., Thapa, K., & Paudel, K. (2021). Population Status and Distribution of Vultures in Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13(10), 18883-18891.
- Bird Conservation Nepal. (n.d.). Vulture Conservation.
- WWF Nepal. (n.d.). Vulture Conservation.
- National Trust for Nature Conservation. (n.d.). Vulture Conservation.
- Ministry of Forests and Environment, Government of Nepal. (2018). Vulture Conservation Action Plan for Nepal 2018-2023.