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Vulture Day gift for scavenger bird
KATHMANDU, SEP 05 -
The dwindling vulture population has something to cheer about on their day on Sunday, the second International Vulture Awareness Day, with authorities declaring to set up two more vulture restaurants by this year.
Presently, six vulture restaurants are in operation in five Tarai districts. “Since these restaurants have proved to be a boon for providing safe food for the endangered bird we are adding two more restaurants,” said Megh Pandey, Deputy Director General at Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
The country also has a captive breeding centre of vulture in Chitwan National Park. “Now 43 birds are under preservation and the breeding process will start soon,” Pandey said.
Of total 23 species of vulture, eight are found in Nepal. According to the data of Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), population of the rare bird species 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 cause for declining vulture population. “Following the ban, we have seen positive signs for vulture protection,” said ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral. “But the overall scenario is not satisfactory.”
According to BCN, Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Dang and Kailai, where vulture restaurants are in operation, are home to the scavenger birds.
Posted on: 2010-09-06 07:42
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