Flying to save Nepal's vultures

by Bexley26 | September 2, 2008 at 09:39 am

697 views | 35 Recommendations | 22 comments

A group of falconry experts and professional paragliding pilots working in Nepal have joined forces in the fight to save Asia's vultures from extinction. Vulture populations throughout Asia have plummeted due to widespread use of the veterinary drug diclofenac, which, despite now being banned in several Asian countries, is still widely available and in use.

Vultures play a fundamental role within their natural ecosystem. They are the ultimate scavengers clearing away carcasses that would otherwise attract pests and harbour disease. The populations of three species, Slender-billed, White-backed and Long-billed vultures, found across India, Nepal and Pakistan, have crashed by up to 95% in the last decade and this has earned two of them Critically Endangered status from the IUCN.

The team in Nepal have pioneered the art of parahawking, training rescued birds of prey to fly with the gliders and provide tourists with an up close and personal introduction to their plight. The experience of soaring on the thermals alongside these magnificent birds, surrounded by giants such as Annapurna and Machapucchre, is helping to raise the profile of the Asian vultures and their decline. Team Parahawking are supporting the work of both local and international organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Bird Conservation Nepal. In March 2008 the team played host to a captive breeding programme for the White-backed Vulture, raising 14 chicks that will themselves be used to breed birds for release into the wild.

This autumn is poised to see another momentous step forward for vulture conservation in Nepal. Planning is underway to open the country’s second vulture restaurant, where local livestock carcasses that are guaranteed Diclofenac-free can be disposed of safely for the benefit of resident vultures.

For more information and to add your voice to this cause follow these links:

Parahawking www.parahawking.com

Vulture Rescue project www.vulturerescue.org

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amyjudd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:07 on September 2nd, 2008

Bexley26, I like this story. It's good stuff.

This sounds like such a good idea.

I like it!

Bexley26

at 11:36 on September 2nd, 2008

Thanks very much :)

rpshen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:52 on September 3rd, 2008

Bexley26, I like this story. It's good stuff. This is wonderful. I wish them best of luck.

Barbara McPherson

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:55 on September 3rd, 2008

Bexley26, I like this story. It's good stuff. We have vultures here(Vancouver Island) in the summer. I love to watch them soar. I like to think of them as Mother Nature's cleanup crew.

gpitta

at 20:01 on September 3rd, 2008

This image was made during my Gujarat visit in the last winter December 2007. On the way from Ahmedabad to Thol lake, we stopped at a tannery where we got to see 7-8 of these vultures.

gpitta has contributed a photo to this story.

Don_Donoughe

at 20:27 on September 3rd, 2008

I took this photo at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. Our guide had just thrown a large container of entrails onto the ground at what they called the "Vulture Restaurant". There were hundreds of vultures descending upon the meat and bones, it was quite a feeding frenzy to observe.

Don_Donoughe has contributed a photo to this story.

umang

at 20:48 on September 3rd, 2008

This is a nice article. The pictures were taken from my terrace where I spotted these vultures soaring high overhead along with some kites and other raptors.

There is some news for Vulture Lovers and their attempt to save the vulture. The Drugs Controller General (India) through a notification, GSR 499(E) dated 4th July 2008 , in excercise of the power conferred under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, prohibits the manufacture, sale and distribution of Diclofenac and its formulations for animal use with immediate effect.

Honestly, I am not sure how much this will help, but lets hope that it will help save the vulture from extinction.

Umang

http://umangdutt.blogspot.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapflickr

neerajchawla

at 21:05 on September 3rd, 2008

On 20th Dec. 2007 at about noon we reached the top of the Bandavgarh mountain (2500 feet), to capture these Vultures in our cameras of course, nesting and flying on the other side of the mountain, undisturbed by the humans. They had their nests high up in the gaps of the mountain surface, making them unaccessible to any predator. It was some sight watching these huge birds flying at such great speed and chasing each other in the air. It is an amazing place to watch and study these Vultures.
Bandhavgarh National Park (MP) India.

Neeraj Chawla
+919820236128
Mumbai, India.

neerajchawla has contributed a photo to this story.

PeetvanSchalkwyk

at 22:09 on September 3rd, 2008

This photo of a vulture was taken in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

marcusjroberts

at 22:54 on September 3rd, 2008

My photos of a vulture were taken as we crossed Nepal in an auto-rickshaw as part of the Rickshaw Run - I can't remember where specifically we were, I think heading westwards towards Hetauda.

rithmroc

at 22:57 on September 3rd, 2008

This photo was taken up near the "Ice Lake" (?), about half an hour's walk from Manang village. They were the first vultures we saw up close for the day; but later on we walked within metres of about 30 vultures feeding on a dead equine (too covered in vultures to tell if it was a pony or a donkey, but probably the latter).

rithmroc has contributed a photo to this story.

Ravivaidya

at 00:26 on September 4th, 2008

I am a lover of nature and am a birder, trekker and photographer too.. have taken quite many pictures of birds, butterflies, insects etc which i share through the different fora... for more raptor pics that you can use see link below http://picasaweb.google.com/ravi.vaidyanathan/Raptors#

You can catch me on email id ravi.vaidyanathan@gmail.com

Ph: +9122 9987777349

Ravivaidya has contributed a photo to this story.

Bexley26

at 05:10 on September 4th, 2008

Thank you everybody for your comments and Good Stuff flags. You can keep up to date with the vulture restaurant project via the parahawking teams website - link above. Scott Mason, who began the parahawking venture, does a newsletter about what the team are up to. There is also a Facebook page for the project.

42x42

at 10:26 on September 4th, 2008

Near Pokara, Nepal

42x42 has contributed a photo to this story.

barbara.elaw

at 12:11 on September 4th, 2008

Saw this white backed vulture whilst on safari in Tanzania March 2008

barbara.elaw has contributed a photo to this story.

m2meemak

at 17:23 on September 4th, 2008

Photograph taken at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo July 2008.
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has wonderful programs in
wildlife conservation, and has a website with additional information.

m2meemak has contributed a photo to this story.

abhijit.avalaskar

at 21:37 on September 4th, 2008

Nice idea to create awareness about a bird on the verge of extinction. Widespread bird as it was earlier, we hardly see any vulture now except for some special areas.

Regards,

Abhi

abhijit.avalaskar@gmail.com

gail delderfield

at 02:11 on September 5th, 2008

One of the vultures at Moholoholo rehabilitation centre, he was saved when 35 of his peers were killed by baiting. Vultures are still considered a part of traditional Southern African medicine, and as such, can command high prices on the black market.

gail delderfield has contributed a photo to this story.

chioinspace

at 17:42 on September 5th, 2008

White Backed Vulture perched near a Kudu kill in Karongwe Game Reserve, South Africa.

chioinspace has contributed a photo to this story.

Collaertsbrothers

at 01:40 on September 6th, 2008

These pictures were taken around a dead buffalo .
Slender-billed, Red-headed and White-rumped Vultures were seen around the place.
Chepp, Cambodia, Mars 2008

Collaertsbrothers has contributed a photo to this story.

AilieB

at 19:24 on September 24th, 2008

I was backpacking in Nepal when I took this photo. We were cycling down a country road in Lumbini, when we came across an animal carcass at the side of the road with dogs and crows scavenging at it. I looked up, and realised there were about 8 vultures perched in the trees all around with their eyes on the meat. So I took some photos of them!

AilieB has contributed a photo to this story.

Sanjay Jha

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:49 on September 24th, 2008

Bexley26, I like this story. It's good stuff. Even in India Vulture population is declining and they are on the verge of extinction. There are special efforts by some bird lovers to rescue vultures.