Different Projects under the Vulture Conservation Programme:

1. Prediction and Management of Potential Declines in Gyps species vulture

Partner: RSPB

Activities:

• Vulture survey along East-West Highway and few North-South road transects

• Vulture survey through Kaligandaki River transect

• Survey of veterinary institutions, mobile para/vet technicians for monitoring use of NSAIDs

• Replacement of diclofenac with safe NSAIDs (Meloxicam)

• Opportunistic survey of vultures and other scavengers at carcasses

• Liver sample collection for diclofenac analysis in available carcasses

2. Conservation action to secure the recovery of Gyps species vulture

Partner: RSPB

Activities:

• Monitoring of vulture population and nesting colonies in different districts: Palpa, Kaski, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Syanjha and Tanahu

• Study of breeding success throughout above ranges

• Survey of Himalayan Griffon in Upper and Lower Mustang

• Advocacy programme, trainings, workshops and meetings related to vulture conservation

• National meeting for Vulture Conservation Action Plan for Nepal

3. Community Managed Jatayu Restaurant: Pithouli, Nawalparasi

Partners: Namuna Buffer Zone Community Forest, Pithouli and Kawasoti VDCs, UNDP/GEF/SGP, RSPB
Start/End: Project period May 2007-December 2008 but has been continued further

Major Achievements:

• Establishment and running of restaurant by local community

• Construction of community building/information centre/viewing house/ cow rescue centre

• Vulture receiving safe food that is free from diclofenac, poisons and agricultural chemicals

• Increase in vulture numbers arriving at restaurant from 60 to as high as 217

• Increase in nest numbers of critically endangered white-rumped vulture and slender-billed vulture in surrounding area

• Endangered Egyptian vulture nesting for the first time in the vicinity of restaurant, this is the first breeding record in lowland Nepal.

• 3 critically endangered vulture species (white-backed vulture, slender-billed vulture and red-headed vulture) and one endangered species ( Egyptian vulture) recorded all around the year

• 7 out of 8 species of vulture found in Nepal recorded from October to April.

• Increasing tourism and income generation activities from tourism

• Various trainings provided i.e. vermi-composting, nature guide, bee keeping, fish farming
  
  Recent Progress :

• Success has prompted replication in Gaidahwa lake, Rupandehi, Lumbini, Kalika Community Forest and Bhulke CF Bijauri (under process), Dang district

4. Community Managed Jatayu Restaurant: Gaidahwa Lake, Lumbini, Rupandehi

Partners: Gaidatal Community Forest, CEPF, RSPB
Start/End: Project period July 2008-June 2009 now this has been continued further

Major achievements:

• Established and running Jatayu restaurant successfully by the local community

• Constructed cattle ranch and vulture viewing house

• Increase in vulture number arriving in restaurant from 38 to as high as 282

• 282 white-backed vultures were recorded in a single carcass this is the highest record of this species in a single carcass in Nepal.

• First time recorded nests of white-backed vulture in the vicinity of restaurant

• Various training ( candle making, scent stick making, bee keeping) provided to the local communityFeeding for vultures initiated

• Local started to generate income by selling their products like candle, scent sticks and natural honey

• Supported irrigation for organic vegetable farming in the community

• Increasing tourism and income generation activities

5. Community Managed Jatayu Restaurant: Kalika Community Forest, Lalmatiya, Dang

Partners: Kalika Community Forest, Narti Community Forest Coordination Committee, Terai Arc Landscape Program (TAL), WWF, CEPF
Start: Started in January 2009

Progress so far:

• Jatayu restaurant operating successfully by the local community

• Constructed cow rescue centre

• Vulture viewing house construction initiated

• Vulture number arriving in restaurant increasing

6. Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre, Kasara, Chitwan National Park

Partners: DNPWC/CNP, NTNC, ZSL, RSPB
Start: April 2008

Progress so far:

• Two holding aviaries, one quarantine aviary and one breeding aviary constructed in a secure enclosure

• Management by 4 staff

• 44 white-rumped vulture chicks captured from various sited for captive breeding, now healthy in aviary

• Capture of further vulture chicks in coming breeding season.

7. Vulture Feeding Centre, Beli, Dhangadi, Kailali District

Partners: EARTH (NGO), Beli (Proposed) Community Forest, local Youth Club, RSPB
Start: July 2008 (2nd phase)

Progress so far:

• Purchase of 10 cattle

• Cow shed taken on rent

• Local youth mobilized.

• Nesting area surveyed and NSAID related awareness campaign at local level

This project is being supported by:

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds	Darwin Initiative	Zoological Society of London