We Need Vultures: But Now They Need Us
Vultures in Nepal are vital to the ecosystem. Without them, decaying animals would spread disease to water systems and eventually, people. With a 97% reduction in numbers, they face extinction. Help us change this.
ABOUT
We are a volunteer run wildlife rescue centre in the Kaski district of Nepal. Our goal is reviving the highly damaged vulture population, which are threatened by diclofenac poisoning. We provide safe, toxin-free food for vultures through our cow rescue centre, creating a safe zone where numbers can rebuild. It's our vision that by growing our vulture restaurant in size and resources, we can protect more vultures and accelerate their recovery. We are 1 of 7 vulture restaurants in Nepal, all committed to vulture conservation and we will continue our efforts for as long as vultures are under threat.
The Situation
The Diclofenac Problem
Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory drug first used in Nepal the 1990's to treat infections in livestock. Diclofenac however, it highly toxic to Gyps vultures (previously highly abundant in Nepal). Once ingested, the drug causes visceral gout and kidney failure, leading to death within a few days.
Since the 1990's, 3 of the most common vultures, the White-rumped, Indian and Slender-billed vultures have declined by over 97%, with other species suffering significant losses. Diclofenac was finally banned by the government in 2006. Despite the ban, diclofenac remained prevalent in Nepal via the black market. Further damaging the fragile vulture population.
Nepal's Vultures Today
Today, due to conservation efforts, the rate at which vulture populations in Nepal is declining has been rapidly slowed. A 2020 census indicated a low but stable population since 2017 following a sharp fall between 2011 and 2016. Despite this, vulture's in Nepal are around the lowest they have ever been at around 2312 individuals according to the SAVE Report 2021. 4 of Nepal's 9 vulture species are now critically endangered
What We Do
Cow Rescue Centre
When cows are unable to work fields or provide milk due to old age or injury, farmers often deliver them to the centre, where we provide them with a safe living space, shelter and food. The rescue centre is managed by our full time cow keeper.
Vulture Feeding
When a rescued cow dies of old age, or other natural causes here at the vulture restaurant, it is prepared as toxin-free food for the vultures. The skin is removed for ease of consumption and the carcass is then left in an open space for vultures to feed.
Ecotourism
We give ecotourists the opportunity to come and observe vultures up close in the wild, as well as the chance to see a vulture feeding. If you're interested in visiting the vulture restaurant, please get in touch with us (find contact details below).
How our vulture restaurant works
Vulture restaurants are usually set up nearby known breeding colonies of vultures. The restaurant provides a regular supply of toxin-free food for these vultures, allowing them to feed without the risk of diclofenac poisoning as well as spend less time foraging, reducing food competition. This attracts vultures from outside breeding colonies to the area, thus reducing the number of vultures at risk of diclofenac poisoning. Each vulture restuarant creates a safe zone of more than 30,000 km2 of the surrounding foraging area where it is considered safe for vultures.
Are vulture restaurants effective?
Yes! Vulture restaurants are a well established and effective conservation tool. While we can't quantify the impact of our project alone, we are very confident in it's impact and can point towards some of the studies to show you why. A 2007 study of vulture restaurant's in Pakistan found that they significantly reduce vulture mortality within the colony in which they are situated. A 2015 study conducted in France on an at risk population of Egyptian vultures found the same effect following the introduction of vulture restaurants. But most importantly, we have seen significant slowing in the rate of vulture decline since the introduction of vulture restaurants to Nepal.
Why Protect Vultures?
Vultures are highly important to the ecosystem they live in
Vultures serve a very specific functional role in an ecosystem: preventing environmental contamination by consuming animal carrion and stopping harmful substances including diseases found in decaying flesh from spreading into the earth and river systems.
Vultures impact us!
By dramatically reducing environmental contamination, vultures directly impact people, as diseases that otherwise would be spread from rotting flesh are prevented from entering farmed soil and water systems. Therefore zoonotic disease is not passed on to humans. This impact is especially important in rural Nepal where there is a lack of water cleaning facilities.
Publications
If you're interested in learning more about vultures, I highly recommend checking out these informative PDFs. They contain a wealth of knowledge about these fascinating birds and their important role in our ecosystem.
Analyzing white rumped vulture breeding behaviour using Markovian Modelin
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Ta6i7Kz5mpRM5y-q1Bv162kwo4MLw84/view
Are white rump vultures (Gyps Bengalensis) scavengers or predetors at a vulture safe feeding site
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HvZNThrlmyJnorzTbPKazERltf7b9XTT/view
Factors Influencing the Potential Distribution of Globally Endangered
Egyptian Vulture Nesting Habitat in Nepal
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ycvGKhWrxaotMlhSkTCOvFOzOiHp4bv_/view
Population viability analysis of Critically Endangered white-rumped vultures
Gyps bengalensis
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nYmcnAKiWeaCXYmsX25FCF0-KxNbkaRk/view
Vultures of Nepal
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-JPbAGgT_Rg6AaNpErsvpo6Vkj8YupdF/view
Socio-economic perspectives on the conservation of Critically Endangered vultures in South Asia: An empirical study from Nepal
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h_XPAR1pE9KT726nWMitnGqhMIWj6omT/view
Status of Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus in Pokhara Valley, Nepal
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZAQcU_QBJsbvoKC1b9I2nKLIfgHPs4g0/view
Vulture conservation action plan
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HAlSvVwUI7vJ2goy_us3LWMlHoYHBVoB/view
Vulture distribution and people perception of vultures in
Pokhara Valley, Nepal
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T9qJtxzGqQQW1ZlUklfFl0a8Up_dX2A7/view
Status of different species of vulture regarding their average total number in
different seasons visiting VSFS (Rupandehi) for carcass feed.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18sa1SqNB-Ygp_WTh6BESyv_dH62FUMbz/view
You can help!
Support
We rely primarily on donations to carry out our work. So any amount you are able to give goes a very long way. All donations made to us go through our parent organisation - Karmaflights (karmaflights.org). A non-profit based in Pokhara, about 20km from our site. If you wish to donate, please follow the link which will take you to the donation section for us on the Karmaflights website.
Volunteer
Another way you could support us and the work we do in a very meaningful way is by volunteering. We fully welcome anyone who wishes to come along and work alongside us. If this interests you, but you are not currently in Nepal, you may well be able to offer your help virtually. For more information about this, please get in touch via the contact section below.
Come visit us
Come and see vultures in the wild with us. Our centre is a perfect location to bird-watch, take close-up photos and learn about vultures. You may even be able to experience vultures feeding first hand. If you'd like to get involved, please get in touch via the contact section below to find out more.