DHADING, MAR 10 – Local people have spotted a flock ofvultures on the banks of the Aashu stream at Tadibesi that borders Salyantar and Jyamarung in the district.

They said around 50 vultures with their chicks have been living in the area for the past one week. “The endangered birds would not be seen there earlier. We do not know where they came from,” local resident Laxmi Subedi said. They also said the scavengers might have come to the area to feed on caresses of dead animals on the river banks.

This is good news for conversationalists and many others at a time when people from various quarters are raising voices for conserving the endangered birds. Many vulture restaurants have been in operation, giving shelter and food to the endangered birds.

Likewise, Pithauli in Nawal-parasi, Gaidahawa Lake in Rupandehi, Lalmatiya and Bijauri in Dang and Khuriya in Kailali have already been declared vulture conservation areas.

A captive breeding centre of vultures has also been established in the Chitwan National Park.

Of the total 23 species of vulture, eight are found in Nepal.

According to the Bird Conservation Nepal, population of the rare bird species has declined by 91 percent after 1990 (from around 500,000 to just 5,000 at present).

Many countries, including Nepal, have banned diclofenac, a veterinary medicine said to be the main reason behind the decline in vulture population.

ekantipur.com