Though vulture is a carnivorous bird, it does not hunt. It waits for the death of a wounded animal but does not pounce on it when alive. It helps to keep the environment clean and balanced by eating carcasses of dead animals. Vulture is an agent that balances the dynamics of the ecological cycle and food chain and prevents the spread of various diseases. That is why a vulture is called the sweeper of nature.
It is not appropriate to compare vultures with flawed characters and tendencies.
A vulture's capacity to see things with its bare eyes is eight times higher than that of human beings. It can also detect smell from a greater distance. Animals other than vultures eat only about 36 percent of a dead animal's carcass, whereas vultures eat about 80 percent. Some vultures even eat pieces of bone and bone marrow.
The vulture is also connected to religious beliefs. It is worshiped as the vahana, or the vehicle of Lord Shani, the Saturn.
There are 23 species of vultures in the world, nine of which are found in Nepal. All these species are found in Pokhara.
The number of vultures is decreasing worldwide. In the 1980s, there were about 1.6 million vultures in Nepal, but currently, there are only about 20 thousand.
The main reason for the decline of vultures in South Asia was the drug Diclofenac, which is used in animal treatment. The government of Nepal has banned the use of Diclofenac in animal treatment since June 6, 2006. Meloxicam, considered safe, has been used as an alternative.
The number of vultures is decreasing due to a lack of habitat, the availability of food, and toxic food, including the carcasses of dead animals.
It is a public responsibility to be serious about protecting vultures.
This vulture species is found at elevations from 1200 meters to 4100 meters. Its length is around 100 to 115 cm. The vulture of this species is called Haadfor Giddha or the ‘bone cracker vulture’ because it has a strange habit of dropping bones from a high place on the rock and eating the marrow and bone pieces. It is also called the ‘bearded vulture’ because it has a beard-like hair below its beak
This species of vulture is blackish brown when it is young. As it grows adult, the tail, body, and wings turn white, and the face becomes yellow. It is found in the height of 915 meters to two thousand meters. It is easily seen in the open areas around the settlements as it eats the remnants of the meat products thrown away by the people. These types of vultures are seen around the landfill site of Pokhara. Its length ranges from 60 to 70 cm. Their nests are found in the crevices of the rocks around Pokhara, where they raise their offspring.
The white-rumped vulture is a rare and highly endangered species of vulture. It is the smallest among the Gyps subspecies. It is found below one thousand meters, and in summer, it can be found as low as 18 meters. Its length is 75 to 85 cm. They generally live in tall and big trees around settlements.
The long-billed vulture is a recently recorded species of vulture in Nepal. It was previously considered a local species of India and Pakistan. It was seen in Nepal for the first time on December 1, 2011, at Jatayu Restaurant in Pithauli, Nawalparasi. Its length ranges from 89cm to 103cm. It is also one of the world's most highly endangered vulture species.
The slender-billed vulture is a rare and highly endangered species. It is found at elevations between 350 and 1526 meters and is between 80 and 95 cm long. Due to human behavior, the number of these vultures is decreasing.
True to their name, vultures of this species are mostly found in the Himalayan region. These vultures are seen in abundance in Pokhara during winter. Just like the mountain region people who come down to Pokhara to escape the winter cold, these vultures also come to Pokhara during winter. They live in tall Bombax malabarica trees, locally known as simal in Pokhara. Vultures of this species are found at elevations of 900 to 4000 meters. Their body length ranges from 115 to 125 cm.
Jatayu is a restaurant for vultures that was opened at the community level to protect them by providing them with food. It is the first community-level restaurant in the world, opened in Pithauli of Nawarparasi district.
These types of restaurants have been opened in Ghaachowk in Kaski, Ganidahawa Lake in Rupandehi, Lalmatiya in Dang, Khutiya in Kailali, and Koshitappu in Sunsari.
In these restaurants, old, weak oxen that are no longer put to work are kept. After their natural death, their skin is torn off, and the remaining carcass is given as food for vultures.
The Jatayu restaurant in Pithaulai is famous as a model community restaurant. Such restaurants are tourist destinations. Many visitors go there to study, research, and observe vultures.
The Eurasian Griffon is a traveler vulture that comes to Nepal to escape winters. This species can be found from 915 to 3500 meters and is 95 to 150 cm long. Unlike the mountain vulture, the upper part of this vulture is not bright. It has a yellow beak and a white neck.
Red-headed vultures are a rare and highly endangered species worldwide. They are found at elevations below two thousand meters and prefer to live in open places near settlements. Their length can reach 85 cm. Adult vultures have a bare red head and white patches at the base of the neck. They have red legs with white patches on the upper part of their thighs.
This vulture is also an endangered species and a visitor during the winters. It flies as high as 4,900 meters during migration. In Pokhara, one can see the fledglings and adults of Cinereous vultures, which range in length from 100 to 1100 cm.
Born in the tourist city of Pokhara, Krishnamani Baral has been active in photography for the past two and a half decades. Currently, he is associated with Annapurna Post vernacular daily. He has dedicated himself to wetland and vulture conservation through journalism.
‘When we were young, the open spaces, fields, rivers, and lakes in the village near our houses were clean. However, they are turning narrowed and dirty, which made me realize that the wetlands need protection,' says Krishnamani, ‘After realizing that the number of vultures is also decreasing, I involved myself in awareness-raising by publishing news and photos in the media.’
In 2009, he organized a photo exhibition in Kathmandu under the theme ‘Save Vulture, Save Environment.’ He has also been organizing photo exhibitions in various schools in Pokhara, Damauli, and Nawalpur to educate about the importance of vultures and wetlands.
He is preparing to publish a photo book about vultures. Baral has contributed to environmental protection through environmental journalism for almost thirty years. For this reason, his well-wishers lovingly call him 'Giddhamani' or 'the jewel of the vultures.'
Best wishes to Krishnamani Baral, an activist dedicated to environmental protection!