Gandaki. In the recent vulture census conducted by the Pokhara Bird Society, 387 vultures were found in Pokhara and surrounding areas. The society has been counting the number of vultures found in Pokhara and surrounding areas every year for 10 years.
Manshant Ghimire, president of the society, informed that 387 vultures were found. According to him, this year, the society counted vultures at Ghachok, Pumdibhumdi, old and new landfill sites and Dovilla around Pokhara, as well as Shishwavabhateri at Byas Municipality-10 in Tanahun, Cow Conservation Center at Shuklagandaki Municipality and landfill side at Damauli.
Ghimire said that the vultures have been in crisis lately due to habitat loss. With the opening of Pokhara International Airport, the waste disposal site located in Pokhara Metropolitan City-15 Chinedanda has been moved to Pokhara-32 Lameahal.
Although the vulture's habitat is especially tall simal trees, researchers in this area say that with the development of settlements in the surrounding areas of Pokhara, their habitat is in danger due to the cutting of simal trees here.
According to Ghimire, vultures were found in large numbers in Chauthe, Mazheripatan, Pana, Garikhet and other places of Pokhara valley until about 15-16 years ago, but now they have disappeared in those places.
According to him, the vultures are in crisis due to the cutting of simal trees and the growing settlements and the dust and smoke coming out from the transport vehicles and industries.
According to various studies conducted in Nepal, the number of vultures has been decreasing in the last two decades. Researchers say that the vulture is in critical condition due to the use of drugs such as diclofenac, which is used on cattle, in addition to the habitat crisis.
"Drug Management Department has banned the production, use and distribution of diclofenac from May 23, 2063, and replaced it with meloxicam, which has been proven not to affect vultures and other birds and wildlife," he said.
According to Ghimire, out of 23 species of vultures found in the world, nine species of vultures are found in South Asia. He informed that nine species found in South Asia are also found in Nepal and all those species are found in Pokhara.
Ghimire said that the number of white vultures was the highest in the count conducted around Pokhara and only one royal vulture was found.
