An initiative has been launched for the conservation of the endangered vulture species in Bardibas, the district’s Bardibas-3 forest area. After a group of vultures was spotted in the Thumko area, the municipality began institutional efforts for their protection.
The municipality has assigned the Culture and Tourism Promotion Committee with the responsibility for vulture conservation. Recently, the committee formed a sub-committee focused on the protection of endangered vultures, rare bird species, and environmental conservation, as stated by the municipality’s mayor, Prahlad Kumar Khatri. The sub-committee is working to strengthen the vulture conservation efforts while preparing plans for the protection of other bird species and environmental preservation.
“Earlier, a committee led by tourism entrepreneur Hiralal Gautam was established under the Culture and Tourism Promotion Committee, and the committee has already begun its work,” Khatri said. “The committee, through the sub-committee, has developed a planned approach for the conservation of vultures and other rare birds found here.”
Last year, under the leadership of the Bardibas Industry and Commerce Federation, ten social organizations started a trekking initiative to identify tourist destinations in the area. During the trek, participants spotted vultures in the area, prompting suggestions for their conservation, and leading the municipality to take action.
Vishal Basnet, a participant in the trek and the coordinator of the Vulture, Bird, and Environment Sub-committee, expressed hope that the project would gain momentum now that the sub-committee is formed. Gautam, the committee’s coordinator, stated, “We have created a list of necessary actions for religious, cultural, social, and environmental areas, and we believe our efforts will promote tourism in this region.”
The committee has prioritized the conservation of vultures found in significant archaeological sites in Bardibas-3, such as Raimandal Dham, Stone Age weapon factories, Parwapakha, Solighopte Danda, and the surrounding Raimandal Danda. The area where vultures were found is now being referred to as “Vulture Base.”
The local community believes that tourism promotion in Bardibas will accelerate due to its geographical location, covering the entire Chure region. With the potential for “Vulture Base” to become a tourist destination, the municipality has planned systematic conservation efforts as part of the culture and tourism promotion committee’s agenda, clarified Khatri.
With over a thousand vultures in the Vulture Base area, Basnet, the sub-committee coordinator, emphasized the need for an organized campaign for their conservation. He also shared plans to undertake similar creative initiatives in the Pithouli forest area of Kawasoti, Nawalparasi, where “Jatayu Restaurant” was established as part of vulture conservation efforts.
According to 70-year-old local Bisundeve Mahato, vultures, which once nested in large trees, stopped being seen after these trees were cut down. He also believes that vultures were dying after consuming poisoned carcasses left by contractors who used to spread poison around the village.
As vultures are increasingly being seen again after disappearing for years, local Tekbahadur Basnet called for collective efforts to protect these endangered birds. While vulture conservation is gradually improving, there is a lack of study and research on the subject, according to Deepak Raj Baral, former principal of Janata Secondary School in Gauridanda, Bardibas-3. He emphasized the need for all levels of government to create encouraging plans to motivate researchers studying endangered bird species.
