GANDAKI, SEPTEMBER 2
The shrinking habitat of vultures in Pokhara has emerged as a cause for concern, for it is leading to the heightened chance of extinction of the birds known as nature's scavengers.
Vultures' major habitats in Pokhara and surrounding jungle areas are depleting rapidly due to rampant encroachment of public land and fast and haphazard urbanisation. This is what ornithologists as well as nature conservationists worry about. Challenges are mounting to protect the vultures from vanishing since the landfill sites where these birds scavenge on carrion have shifted or shut down. The landfill site at Chinenanda at Pokhara Metropolitan City-15 of Kaski was relocated elsewhere. As a result, vultures are no longer seen here.
In recent years, many species of vultures have been disappearing with increasing urban development in Pokhara Valley. Deforestation is another reason contributing to the decreasing number of birds listed in the critically-endangered species. Absence or tall trees such as Saal where these birds build nests are being cut down while developing human settlements around the Pokhara city. All these factors are behind the extinction of birds of prey.
Industrial pollution and depletion of water bodies is further pushing vultures on the brink of disappearance. There are as many as 23 species of vultures found across the world. Among them, Nepal is home to eight species.
An estimated 10,000 Himalayan vultures were found in Nepal as per the latest vulture census, while the whiterumped and dongor vulture's number stands at 2,000. Likewise, 500 golden vultures are found. The number of small gray vulture is around 50 to 75. The vulture census recently conducted in various places of Pokhara and Tanahun spotted around 40 to 50 vultures in old landfill sites. Chair of Pokhara Bird Society, Manshanta Ghimire, said the vultures were found dead due to consumption of dead cattle treated with Diclofenac.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 03, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
