The Jatayu Restaurant, located inside the Namuna Buffer Zone Community Forest in Kawasoti Municipality of Nawalpur, has evolved into a successful model of vulture conservation while emerging as an important destination for eco-tourism, environmental education, and research. Despite its name, the Jatayu Restaurant is not a facility for people. It is a dedicated conservation centre established to provide vultures with safe food and a secure habitat.
Conservation Centre Established in 2006
The initiative was established in 2006 following a rapid decline in vulture populations caused by the veterinary drug diclofenac. Vultures that consumed the carcasses of livestock treated with diclofenac were found to suffer fatal consequences. After the link between the drug and vulture deaths was confirmed, Nepal banned the use of diclofenac in veterinary treatment. Against this backdrop, local communities, conservationists, and other stakeholders joined hands to establish the Jatayu Restaurant as a safe feeding site for vultures.
Eight of Nepal’s Nine Vulture Species Recorded
The conservation initiative has achieved significant success since its establishment. According to DB Chaudhary, coordinator of the Jatayu Restaurant, eight of the nine vulture species found in Nepal have been recorded in the area. Four of these species are resident vultures, while the other four migrate from the Himalayan region to the area during winter. The increase in vulture numbers has been accompanied by a significant change in local attitudes toward vulture conservation. “Previously, there was limited interest in vulture conservation. Today, people increasingly understand that vultures are essential to nature, and residents have begun actively participating in conservation campaigns,” said Chaudhary.
50 Hectares Managed as a Safe Vulture Habitat
The conservation area covers approximately 50 hectares of the Namuna Buffer Zone Community Forest, spread across Wards No. 7, 12, and 13 of Kawasoti Municipality. The area has been carefully managed to create a suitable habitat for vultures. Conservation measures include planting tall trees such as silk cotton trees, which vultures prefer for roosting, providing clean drinking water, and regularly supplying safe food. The centre also provides treatment and monitoring for injured, weak, or sick vultures. According to Jatayu Restaurant staff member Yam Nepali, these measures have helped create a safer environment for the birds and strengthened the area’s long-term conservation efforts.
From Conservation Site to Tourism Destination
Jatayu Restaurant is no longer limited to its role as a conservation centre. The area has increasingly attracted domestic and international visitors interested in observing vultures and learning about wildlife conservation. A specially constructed C-shaped observation shelter, known as the ‘C-Block’, allows visitors and researchers to observe vultures feeding from a relatively close distance without disturbing the birds. The unique experience has helped establish the site as an emerging eco-tourism destination in Nawalpur.
Growing Interest Among Students and Researchers
The site is also becoming increasingly popular among students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts interested in wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and bird studies. Visitors from within and outside Nawalpur are increasingly arriving to observe vultures and study the conservation model developed through community participation. According to Yam Nepali, the growing number of visitors demonstrates the potential to combine conservation with responsible nature-based tourism.
Community Participation at the Heart of Conservation
The success of the Jatayu Restaurant has been attributed largely to the active participation of the local community, effective management, and a strong commitment to conservation. The initiative has demonstrated how community-led conservation can simultaneously protect endangered wildlife, promote environmental awareness, and create new opportunities for nature tourism and research.
Subash Adhikari, Information Officer at the Division Forest Office, Nawalpur, said the community’s sense of ownership and growing conservation awareness have made an important contribution not only to protecting endangered vultures but also to maintaining ecological balance. He added that the Division Forest Office has periodically implemented various activities to further strengthen vulture conservation efforts in the region.
A Successful Model for Conservation and Eco-Tourism
The Jatayu Restaurant has now established itself as one of Nepal’s successful examples of integrating wildlife conservation, community participation, nature tourism, and scientific research. Its success demonstrates that conservation initiatives can generate broader social and economic benefits when local communities are actively involved.
As vulture populations recover and visitor interest continues to grow, Nawalpur’s Jatayu Restaurant is emerging as a destination where wildlife protection and tourism development work together to promote a more sustainable future for both nature and local communities.
