CHITWAN: An investigation has been started to find out why the eggs of white-rumped vultures at Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC) of Chitwan National Park have not been hatching properly.

National Park's Chief Conservation Officer, Ved Kumar Dhakal, shared that national and international experts are investigating the reason for fewer number of eggs getting hatched.

Though the number of eggs laid has increased, there is a decline in the number of hatched eggs. This has raised a concern because the white-rumped vulture has been listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2000 AD.

According to Ishana Thapa, Executive Officer of Bird Protection Nepal, the complications in reproduction process of the vultures have increased in comparison to previous years.

The data provided by the Conservation Centre states that in the current fiscal year, out of 20 vulture eggs, only two could hatch. Similarly, in the previous fiscal year, six out of 21 eggs had hatched.

The Centre has been protecting the endangered species since 2008 AD.