Nepals first vulture breeding centre established

KATHMANMDU: Nepal has established the country's first vulture breeding centre inside the popular Chitawan National Park with a view to maintain a viable population of the bird facing a massive decline.

Some 14 pairs of white-backed vulture, a rare species, captured from Pokhara have been kept in the centre spread in about one hectare area in Kasara inside the popular wildlife sanctuary in central Nepal, Dives Bista, an official at the National Nature Conservation Trust said.

Two aviaries have been made in the park near the famous crocodile breeding centre and capturing of vultures had started, who are brought to the centre, he said.

It takes two to three years time for a vulture to reach breeding age, he said adding after a viable population of the vultures is achieved, they will be freed in the wild.

The centre is established by the trust in collaboration with Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation and Zoological Society of London at a cost of Rs 12 lakh.

It takes two to three years time for a vulture to reach breeding age, Bista said.

The vulture, regarded an endangered species, is sharply diminishing in Nepal and if concrete efforts were not made, the bird might soon face extinction, he added.

Environmental pollution and encroachment of their habitat are the main causes of diminishing vulture population, according to conservationists.