More then 100 vultures with 6 different species are found in Pokhara

By Krishna Mani Baral
Vultures have been seen around pokhara after long times, which as environment conservationists say is good news. More then 100 vultures with 6 different species are found in Vakunde near fewa Lake Pokhara on Friday. Himalayan Griffon, Eurasian Griffon, Cinereous vulture, Red-headed vulture, White-rumped vulture and Slender-billed vulture are found in carcass vakunde Pokhara.

According to a local people Gyan bahadur jalari, the vultures fed on a carcass of a mule and finished their meal in a matter of minutes.
As Vultures feed on carrion, they are considered to be of great importance to the environment. Prof of Geography at Prithvi Narayan Campus, Dr Krishan KC said the future of the Vultures had been in danger after people started burying the carcasses of animals instead of throwing it away as animal carcass is the main food of vultures. He added programmes should be brought out of conservation of vulture. Vultures play a major role in environment conservation by preying on dead animals. However, eating animals that had died after consuming poison had proven to be fatal for vultures.
The future of vultures was also endangered due to medicines used in domestic cattle as they die after feeding on cattle that were fed a medicine called Diclofenac, Birds Conservation Nepal Chief Executive Officer Dr Hum Bahadur Gurung said. However, Diclofenac was banned in Nepal and a safer substitute, Meloxicam, was found, which won’t be as harmful to the vultures.
Organisations like Nepal’s Bird Conservation have been working proactively in monitoring the ban, educating farmers and cattle owners about the use of Meloxicam, and in setting up vulture restaurants (where birds can feed safely on healthy meat put out by restaurant owers) in Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Dang and Kaski. Eight species of vultures are found in Nepal.
Images: Krishna Mani Baral