On the occasion of the 16th International Vulture Awareness Day, a vulture census is being conducted today in Kanchanpur. The census is supported by the Nepal Bird Conservation Association and involves sending trained enumerators to potential vulture habitats for observation and counting. Bird expert Hirulal Dagaur shared that the day is being observed through vulture observation, census, and awareness programs.
Participants in the census include representatives from Shuklaphanta National Park, Shuklaphanta Nature Guide Association, NTNC (National Trust for Nature Conservation), Kanchanpur Bird Conservation Group, and the Belouri Municipality Youth Network, among others. The counting began early in the morning and continues throughout the day.
The census is being carried out in key areas, including Hirapurphanta, Bhatpuri, Tarapur, Shuklaphanta grassland inside the national park, and external areas like Bansaha, Persia, Kanj, Jhilimila, Beldandi, and community forests surrounding Kisan Buffer Zone. Additionally, vulture counting is also underway in Khutiya and Belipetala areas of Kailali district.
According to bird expert Dagaur, enumerators have been divided into groups of 5 to 10 members and sent to various locations where vultures are most likely to be spotted. “We have dispatched the teams to vulture-prone areas,” he said. “At each site, enumerators sit for at least 30 minutes to observe and count, while walking at a speed of less than one kilometer per hour to ensure accurate counting.”
The census teams are also tasked with identifying vulture species, recording their behavior (such as feeding, sunbathing, drinking, or flying), and noting any threats or challenges the vultures might face. In addition to manual observations, they will use books, posters, and the Merlin app to assist with species identification, and capture photos and videos of the birds.
The census is scheduled between 7 AM and 11 AM in the morning, and from 3 PM to 6 PM in the evening. A previous survey revealed over 120 vulture nests in Kanchanpur, including 114 nests of the endangered slender-billed vulture. Bird experts estimate that the vulture population in Kanchanpur is between 300 and 400 individuals.
Nepal is home to nine species of vultures, including the slender-billed, Himalayan griffon, white-rumped, red-headed, Egyptian, and bearded vultures, among others. The first Saturday of September is observed globally as International Vulture Awareness Day, and Nepal marks this occasion with a week-long celebration from September 1 to 7.
