A team of vulture conservationists from Bird Conservation Nepal recently completed 12th annual highway transects survey of vultures to determine the rate of changes in vulture population. The survey was carried out following east-west highway across Terai lowland covering 560 km from Narayanghat, Chitawan to Gaddachowki, Kanchanpur between 8 May to 20 May 2016, in a vehicle driven at a rate of 20 Km/h. This survey identifies and records all vultures sighted within 1000m of either side of the road. In addition to east-west highway the team also surveyed the mountain routes of Lamahi-Tulsipur-Salyan-Rukum and Bhalubang-Pyuthan-Rolpa-Arghakhanchi-Gulmi-Palpa-Syanja-Kaski-Tanahu-Mugling.

This survey is supported by and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), UK and collaboration with Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepal. The current survey observed 74 White-rumped Vultures which is three more than last years' record. Around 205 vultures were observed in the first survey in 2002 but the numbers declined to 55 by 2009. Since 2009 annual survey research shows that the population of White-rumped Vulture has stabilized in western Nepal.