Download to read offline
Success and challenges of vulture recovery program in Nepal
- 1. Mohan Prasad GajurelMohanPrasad Gajurel M.Sc. forestry, 1M.Sc. forestry, 1stst YearYear Enroll No. 33Enroll No. 33
- 2. Term Paper on 10/08/18 TermPaper on Forest Certification process in Nepal Forest Certification Process in Nepal
- 3. Presentation outline : Introduction RecoveryPrograms Successes Challenges Conclusion Recommendation 10/08/18
- 4. Introduction • Nepal hasa diverse landscape, biodiversity richness and its distribution. About 878 species of birds are recorded in Nepal. Among them, Vultures, the only vertebrate obligate scavengers, are facing a catastrophic decline worldwide . • Vultures provide an important ecosystem service by maintaining an environment free from animal carcasses. In Hindu mythology, a vulture is said to be the carrier of God Sani (Saturn). • Out of 9 species of vultures recorded from South Asia, 8 species of vultures are found in Nepal. 6 species are resident, one species is a winter migrant another is passage migrant and the last is vagrant. 10/08/18
- 5. Introduction cont….. • Theyinhibit in areas near human habitation and open areas (Grimmett et al., 2000; Prakash et al., 2003). • Four species of vultures, namely WRV, IV, SBV and RHV, are in grave danger of extinction across the Indian subcontinent. Between 1995 and 2011, monitoring of vulture populations in lowland Nepal revealed declines of 91% and 96% for WRV and SBV, respectively (Chaudhary et al., 2012). 10/08/18 5
- 6. Resident/Migrant status ,conservation status& estimated population of 8 species of vulture in Nepal 10/08/18 6
- 7. 10/08/18 7 Species Resident /Migratory Conservation statusGlobal Conservation status Nepal Estimated pop. In Nepal Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) Resident breeder NT V 500˂ Cinereous vulture (Aegypinus monachus) Winter migrant NT E - Egyptain vulture (Neophron percnopterus) Resident breeder End. V 1000˂ Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) Passage migrant Least concern Least concern - Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis ) Resident breeder NT V 10000˂ Indian vulture (Gyps indicus ) Vagrant CE Not specified - Redheaded V.(Sarcogyps calvus ) Resident breeder CE CE 500˂ Slender V. ( Gyps tenuirostris ) Resident breeder CE CE 50˂ White-rumped V.(Gyps bengalensis ) Resident breeder CE CE 2000˂ source: Vulture action plan (2015-2019)
- 8. Causes and consequencesof vulture population declines 10/08/18 8
- 9. Causes … Diclofenacis given to cattle Vulture Ingest Diclofenac from cattle carcass Vulture suffer renal failure, loss of flight and ultimately death ( A 30 ml vial Diclofenac is enough to kill around 500 vulture) 10/08/18 9
- 10.
- 11. Causes … Other causes Infectious diseases, environmental contamination, deliberate and accidental poisoning along with exploitation and persecution (Rahmani 2004) may also contribute to population declines. 10/08/18 11
- 12. Recovery Programs In Nepalthere are a range of current actions and programs in process for the conservation of vultures :- Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) prepared Vulture Conservation Action Plan for Nepal (2015-2019) Vulture conservation breeding center is another program running in Nepal. A Vulture conservation breeding center has been constructed at Kasara, Chitwan National Park through the joint efforts of the Nepal Government and INGOs. 10/08/18 12
- 13. Recovery cont…. Another conservationprogram in Nepal is establishment of vulture restaurants Vulture restaurants have now been successfully introduced to Nawalparasi, Rupandehi District, Laimatiya VDC and Bijouri VDC of Dang, Kailali , Sunsari and Kaski districts (Government of Nepal 2009). Gilbert et al. (2007) (Cited by: Richard J. H, 2013) 10/08/18 13
- 14. Recovery cont…. BCN initiateda pioneer idea of working with local communities to establish a Vulture Safe Zone since 2009 (Paudel, 2013). This concept comprises of an inner core with a 50 km radius and an outer buffer zone, 50–100 km radius, which has been tested free of Diclofenac and other veterinary drugs toxic to vultures (SAVE 2011). VSFS have now expanded and combined becoming Diclofenac Free Zones (DFZ) in 46 districts covering an area of 101160 km2 ( Vulture Conservation Action Plan 2015-2019) 10/08/18 14
- 15.
- 16. Recovery cont…. • InNepal, 9 sites are recorded as vulture safe feeding sites. They are in Kailali, Dang, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Sunsari. • According to Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) five key components of vulture restaurants comprise: a. Awareness of the diclofenac threat and role of vultures in the environment b. Monitoring and removal of diclofenac and other toxic veterinary drugs c. Vulture colony monitoring d. Supplementary feeding e. Community empowerment and conservation activities 10/08/18 16
- 17. Recovery cont…. • Thefollowing list of priorities has been adopted as updated SAVE priorities for vulture conservation in 2014: a. An immediate ban of diclofenac manufactured for human medicine in vials or ampoules larger than 3ml. b. Improve the availability of more effective meloxicam formulations thereby facilitating take up by veterinary practitioners. c. Veterinary licenses to be withdrawn for two drug ketoprofen and aceclofenac – based on the good existing evidence that they are unsafe for vultures. 10/08/18 17
- 18. Recovery cont…. d. Promotionof network and approach of ‘Vulture Safe Zones’ across South Asia with expansion to include trans-boundary cooperative efforts. • In addition, NPWC Act have provision for punishment to offenders. Drug Act 1978, National Drug Policy 1995 are being implemented as well. 10/08/18 18
- 19. Successes • People havedeveloped positive attitude towards vulture and its conservation after the establishment of Vulture Restaurants (VR), we can conclude that VR is effective in the field of vulture conservation by enhancing the public consensus towards it. • VR has become a effective tool for stabilizing the hastily declining vulture population and the population of vultures have increased significantly. • Community empowerment and conservation activities have increased. Many people are actively involved in such activities. 10/08/18 19
- 20. Challenges • Risk ofcontinued use of diclofenac despite its ban. • Study on the effects of other NSAID besides diclofenac is complicated. Aceclofenac metabolises into diclofenac in livestock, but is not banned in Nepal. • Much more studies and research needs to be carried out to increase our knowledge base on vultures for effective conservation • Different threats to vultures inside the Vulture Restaurants which includes theft of meat, high tension electric power lines, porcupine borrow, hyena pugmarks, feral dogs and other non- targeted species feeding on carcass are being observed and mitigated. 10/08/18 20
- 21. Conclusion • Because ofVR most of the people have developed positive attitude towards vulture and its conservation. • The negative perception of some people towards vulture conservation should be minimized by improving managerial aspects. • Control of non targeted species such as feral dogs is a must for the conservation of vultures. • Detailed study of the several drugs other than diclofenac is necessary. 10/08/18 21
- 22. Recommendation • Mitigating measuresfor controlling the non-targeted species inside the VR should be constructed. • Livestock holding capacity of rescue center should be increased with proper shed management for maintaining the carcass supply 10/08/18 22
- 23. Recom. Cont… • Publicawareness programs to motivate young and educated youths toward the conservation of the vulture. • Vulture restaurant could be utilized as a tourist destination area of the district so, more promotion and publication of these restaurants is must 10/08/18 23
- 24. ThanksThanks Suggestion and Feedbackare hearltySuggestion and Feedback are hearlty welcomewelcome 10/08/18