Pokhara :

Vultures have been seen around Pokhara after nearly a decade, which as environment conservationists say is good news.

Around 200 vultures were seen in Kundahar Phaant, Kaski last week. According to a local journalist Ram Gurung, 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 Krishna KC said the future of the vulutres 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 for conservation of vultures.

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 Dichlofenac, Tourism Officer of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Anu Lama said. However, a new medicine for domestic cattle called Melax has been introduced, which won’t be as harmful to the vultures.

Vultures have been on the verge of extinction in Nepal since 1990, she added.

Local resident, Laxman Pariyar said vultures also die of electrocution when they perch on electricity wires, adding public awar-eness programmes should be organised for the conservation of vultures.