As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 26 March 2018

Conservation of white-rumped vultures in progress in Nepal



Published: March 16, 2018 3:32 pm On: Nepal

CHITWAN: The conservation of critically endangered white-rumped vultures conducted by the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Kasara, Chitwan National Park (CNP) is in progress.

The VCBC was established in 2007 to conduct captive breeding of critically endangered vulture species that have gone through catastrophic decline across South Asia.

Currently, there are 57 white-rumped vultures in VCBC. Of the total, 25 are males and 24 females while eight others are babies which have not been identified yet. Agriculture and Forestry University Rampur, Chitwan has been conducting DNA tests on the scavenger birds to identify their gender.

Although it was difficult to hatch the eggs in the beginning, six out of 18 eggs were hatched this season at the centre that conducted breeding of vultures brought from different places, according to Supervisor of VCBC, CNP Assistant Conservation Officer Bed Bahadur Khadka.
Last year, 15 vultures had laid eggs, but only nine of them hatched. The scavenger birds had laid eggs for the first time in 2012 but were unable to hatch out. Nevertheless, they hatched for the first time in 2013. In the following year, no eggs were laid, but an egg was hatched successfully in 2015.

The conservation of critically endangered vultures has been expedited to facilitate growth in their population, CNP Assistant Conservation Officer and Information Officer Nurendra Aryal said. The breeding has played a significant role in conservation of the near-extinct birds as many of them have been set free into the nature, Aryal added.

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