Chris Bowden, International Species Recovery Officer, RSPB, reflects and updates on one of the most significant milestones in saving Asia’s vultures from extinction.
On 17 September, 12 critically endangered white-rumped vultures were released into wild in Nepal. Eight of these birds were hatched within the conservation breeding programme - the first release of captive-bred vultures in Asia!
Releases last year of birds reared (but not hatched) in the programme have so far shown very promising signs of survival and success, and in addition, 20 wild birds have now been satellite-tagged – 11 in 2017, and a further nine just prior to this release.
Wild and released white-rumped vultures feeding on carcass outside breeding aviary. Photo by Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN)
Building up to the release
Before the release, I spent just over a week with the Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) team and raptor expert Jemima Parry-Jones in the sweltering heat of the Terai lowlands of Nepal, at the vulture breeding centre in Chitwan National Park, and the nearby vulture release site.
It was the culmination (although there’s still more to do!) of the efforts since diagnosing the declines, to initiating Vulture Safe Zones and many innovative ways to remove diclofenac from veterinary use across Nepal.
These have successfully reduced its availability and veterinary use to negligible levels. We’ll be talking much more about that once the results are published.
The dedicated BCN team, led by Krishna Bhusal, have carried out the crucially important job not only of maintaining the birds in the release aviary for several months, but also in engaging the local community in supporting the aims to conserve the vultures, and taking pride in their involvement.
Released white-rumped vultures. Photo by Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN)
Sharing experience from Scotland
The week before the release, they hosted Duncan Orr-Ewing (RSPB) and Dave Anderson (Forestry Commission) who brought and shared their satellite-tagging experience from golden and white-tailed eagles in Scotland, and worked brilliantly together in tagging not only the birds ready for release, but also nine more wild birds. We’ll be keeping you updated on how all these birds fare.
The attendance at the release of the Government’s Director General for Wildlife as well as senior officials of all the partner organisations involved was an important sign of how seriously the Nepalese Government and NGOs are taking the project.
Despite some unavoidable delays in the arrival of the officials’ plane from Kathmandu, we still met with local community leaders, and listened to some important speeches - further endorsing support from all the levels.
The release
We all then proceeded to the observation hide (slightly more people than ideal, but it was hard to say no to the enthusiastic attendees - so it was a squeeze and even hotter inside the hide!) and once the buffalo carcass was in place outside the release aviary the Director General helped pull the rope, gently opening the aviary gate.
One by one, all twelve of the captive birds came out to join the bedlam of 60 wild vultures devouring the large carcass. Within thirty minutes the buffalo was reduced to just a rib-cage and the release aviaries were briefly empty. We were also treated to two adult slender-billed vultures joining the fray, and by the end, one rather majestic red-headed vulture also came down.
Wild and released white-rumped vultures feeding. Photo by Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN)
Gradually all the wild vultures flew up to the surrounding trees, along with six of the twelve released birds. But the remaining six released birds decided they preferred to return inside their release aviary home for the night! We closed the gate to keep them safe overnight, reopening the following morning when they all flew out once more.
What's happened since the release?
The good news is that the team have successfully located all twelve released birds, and ten have been confirmed feeding at carcasses of cows that died in the cow-shelter since the release.
Half the birds returned to the aviary on their second night of ‘freedom’, but since then they have all decided to stay out with the wild birds.
Lets wish the birds well with their adjustment to the wild and the BCN team with keeping up with the monitoring. We know the birds will take time to build up their wing muscles and range more widely, but the key for now is to keep them alive and healthy.
We'll keep you updated...
See the SAVE website for more info on how we're part of team saving Asia's vultures from extinction.
Well done everybody!