NAWALPARASI: The number of tourists visiting Jatayu Restaurant — the first restaurant for vultures in Asia — in the district has been increasing.

The restaurant was established about three years ago to preserve endangered species of vulture. The restaurant was opened in Namuna Community Forest at Pithauli in the district to preserve white-rumped and slender-billed vultures. The number of vultures has increased after the restaurant was set up.

A local, Ishwori Prasad Chaudhary, said more tourists were visiting the vulture restaurant. The vultures are fed uncontaminated cattle carcasses to save them from extinction. “The number of nests has increased from 17 to 40 while the number of vultures has increased from 73 to 276,” said Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary, coordinator of the restaurant management committee.