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.