Ecological Monitoring and Conservation of Vultures in Jajarkot District, Nepal
Report Submitted to: Oriental Bird Club, United Kingdom
Submitted by: Khadananda Paudel Krishna Prasad Bhusal Bird Conservation Nepal P.O. Box 12465, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal www.birdlifenepal.org
November, 2015
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...... I
SUMMARY ...... II
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND ...... 1
PROJECT AREA ...... 2
OBJECTIVES ...... 2
METHODOLOGY and RESULTS ...... 3
Fieldwork Efforts ...... 3
Vulture Species and Number ...... 3
Survey and Ecological Monitoring ...... 4
Bird Survey in Jajarkot District ...... 4
Capacity Enhancement Training to Local NGO and Community Awareness ...... 5
School Education Programme ...... 5
Jajarkot District Declared as Diclofenac Free Zone ...... 6
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS ...... 7
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 7
REFERENCES...... 8
ANNEX-1: List of bird species recorded during the trip (April 2014 and February 2015)...... 10
ANNEX-2: Number of vultures seen in trail ...... 14
ANNEX-3: Vulture nest status and location in Jajarkot District ...... 14
ANNEX-4: Some Photos ...... 15
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to acknowledge Oriental Bird Club (OBC), UK and Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB), UK for funding and supporting the project. We would like to thank Dr David Buckingham for his cooperation for the project.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), Barekot Environmental and Development Campaign (BEDC), Jajarkot, District Livestock Service Office (DLSO), Jajarkot for supporting the project. We highly appreciate the support and guidance of Dr. Narendra Man Babu Pradhan and Ishana Thapa.
Our sincere thanks go to Harihar Singh Rathour, Govinda Bahadur Singh, Badri Panta, Bhupal Nepali and Ishwari Prasad Chaudhary for their tireless work during the project implementation.
Finally, we would like to thank local youths, local organizations and local communities, veterinary practitioners, media personnel and district government authorities of Jajarkot district for their kind support, feedback and provide local knowledge during our fieldwork.
I
SUMMARY
Vultures are the primary consumers of carrion in Asia and Africa; they dispose dead animals in nature and help in preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases. Four species of vultures in Asia are in grave danger of extinction across the Indian subcontinent due to toxic drug diclofenac. This project remained crucial for the exploration and ecological monitoring of Critically Endangered Red-headed Vulture nest in Jajarkot district. Only three nests of Red-headed Vulture have been identified in Nepal and are being monitored, among these three one active nest of Red-headed Vulture in Pinus rouxburghii tree was identified in Jajarkot through this project and is being monitored regularly now. The pair identified became successful to fledge chick in breeding season 2014-2015. Similarly one active nest of Egyptian Vulture also became successful with 100% breeding success. Five active nests of Himalayan Griffon were monitored of which three nests became success with 60% breeding success. One occupied nest of Bearded Vulture was also observed during the field visit. Detail bird survey was also carried out during the project implementation which recorded a total of 146 species of birds including Globally Threatened Cheer Pheasant, Red-headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Nationally Threatened Satyr Tragopan, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Brown Fish Owl and Protected bird of Nepal Himalayan Monal. Jajarkot district was declared as ‘46th Vet Diclofenac Free District’ in Nepal by the local government authorities and stakeholders. 2230 Sq. km area of project site occupies Diclofenac Free Zone as a part of Provisional Vulture Safe Zone in Nepal. One day awareness programme was organized in Lanha-6, Pokhara of Jajarkot district to raise the awareness and familiarize local community and stakeholders with vulture conservation efforts. Some focal persons of community and members of local NGO named Barekot Environmental and Development Campaign (BEDC) were trained for vulture identification and nest monitoring. School Education Programme was done selecting six schools in the vicinity of vulture nesting site of Jajarkot in which a total of 669 students and 40 teachers participated.
II
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
Out of nine vultures species in Nepal, four species namely White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Long-billed Vulture G. indicus Slender-billed Vulture G. tenuirostris and Red- headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus are listed as critically endangered by IUCN. Research and monitoring of vulture species undertaken in lowland areas revealed declines of 91% for White- rumped Vulture, and 96% for Slender-billed Vulture between 1995 and 2011 (Chaudhary et al., 2012). Vultures are highly susceptible to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatary Drug, diclofenac, they are exposed to the drug through the carcasses of treated livestock. Diclofenac kills gyps vultures (Oaks et al., 2004; Swan et al., 2006) including Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis (Das et al., 2010) and possibly other species as they too have declined (Cuthbert et al., 2006; Acharya et al., 2009).
In order to halt the decline of these critically endangered birds, Government of Nepal put ban on production, import and use of veterinary diclofenac in 2006 and endorsed Vulture Conservation Action Plan for Nepal (2009-13) in 2009. The main objective of Vulture Conservation Action Plan was to prevent the extinction of vulture species by ensuring re-introduction, safe food supply, maintenance of suitable habitat and better understanding of the ecological importance of these birds in Nepal with a goal to revive viable population of vultures in the wild.
Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre was established inside Chitwan National Park in 2008 by Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), with supports from National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Zoological Society of London (ZSL) (MoFSC, 2014). In addition to this, seven community managed Vulture Safe Feeding Sites have been established in Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Dang, Kailali, Kaski and Sunsari districts of Nepal from 2007-2013 (Paudel, 2013; Himalayan Nature, 2015).
The project aimed at exploring the habitat of vultures in Jajrkot district as well as identifying the species of birds in the area, expanding diclofenac free zones and doing some awareness activities for the conservation of vultures in the project area.
1
PROJECT AREA
The project area is Jajarkot district of Bheri Zone in mid-western region of Nepal. The total population of the district is 171,304 (2011 census) with a density of 77/km². It covers an area of 2,230 km²and is located between N28°37'22" to 29°07'32" and E81°49'22" and 82°34'46". The district has 30 VDCs. Darim Lek (5440m) is the highest altitude and 610 m is the lowest altitude within the district. The climate of the district ranges from subtropical to alpine condition.
Most of the nests of vultures are situated in Barekot area; the northern part of Jajarkot district. In Lanha VDC ward no 6 there is located a nest of Critically Endangered Red-headed Vulture. The nest has been made in the trunk of Pine (Pinus roxburghii) tree. Besides it other vulture are cliff breeding species thus their nests are located mountain rocky cliff of Shakla and Nayakbanda VDCs. This project area occupies 2,230 square kilometer area to the existing provisional Vulture Safe Zone in Nepal.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of project was to explore the potential vulture habitat in district and develop an ecological monitoring plan in partnership with communities and a grassroots NGO. The specific objectives were:- • Ecological monitoring and survey of vultures and Non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and in the project area. • Enhance the capacity of local NGO and conduct awareness campaigns on vulture conservation. • Expansion of provisional Vulture Safe Zone (pVSZ) to a new district.
2
METHODOLOGY and RESULTS
Fieldwork Efforts The exploratory and preliminary field visit was done in the month April to identify the nesting and roosting habitat of vultures in northern hill of Jajarkot district. A total of 11 days were spent in the study area starting from 8 April to 18 April 2014. On an average 10 hours a day were spent in the field to keep the record of sighting number and species of vulture with nest monitoring. Absolute count of vultures sighting were done along the trail in Jagatipur, Khalanga, Dandagaun, Lanha, Sakla and Nayakbanda VDCs of Jajarkot district. During the fieldwork and awareness campaigns local villagers, school children, teachers, local government officials and political leaders were also involved. Detail survey and ecological monitoring of vultures and community awareness were completed from 21 February 2015 to 6 March 2015.
Vulture Species and Number During the field survey we recorded four species of vulture in Jajarkot which are resident breeder species of western mid hill of country. These species include Critically Endangered Red-headed Vulture, Endangered Egyptian Vulture, Near Threatened Himalayan Griffon and Bearded Vulture (Annex-2).
Figure: Number of vultures recorded from trail transect.
3
Survey and Ecological Monitoring In order to study the breeding ecology, nests were counted, and the nest occupancy, breeding status and general behavior were recorded. Observations were made from the ground without disturbing the vultures. Monitoring of each nest was done to access the nest status and breeding success for the breeding season 2014-15 (Annex-3). Following Postupalsky (1974), an active nest was defined as a nest in which eggs had been laid, whereas an occupied nest is one in which an egg need not have been laid, but a minimum of nest building must have taken place. A nest from which a chick fledged is termed as productive or successful. The geographic positions were recorded with the help of GPS from nearest accessible point. Breeding success of White-rumped Vulture was calculated by flowing formula:- No of productive nest Breeding Success = x 100 No of active nest
One active nest of Red-headed Vulture was recorded in Pinus rouxburghii tree which became successful to fledge chick with 100% breeding success in the breeding season 2014-15. Similarly one active nest of Egyptian Vulture was monitored which also became successful with 100% breeding success. Five active nests of Himalayan Griffon were monitored of which three nests became success with 60% breeding success. One occupied nest of Bearded Vulture was also observed during the field visit.
Bird Survey in Jajarkot District Bird survey was also carried out in the project site. Altogether 146 species of birds were recorded during the field visit in Jajarkot district mostly in Barekot area (Details in Annex-1). We confirmed the presence of Globally Threatened Cheer Pheasant in district. A pair of cheer pheasant was noticed twice and call was recorded at Aireni CF, Shakla-1, Laikham ( N- 28.85682° E-082.30071° Elv-2135m). Besides Cheer Pheasant other Globally Threatened Red- headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Woolly-necked Stork were also recorded frequently in the site. Nationally Threatened bird species Satyr Tragopan, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Brown Fish Owl and Himalayan Monal, a protected bird species of Nepal was also recorded. Some wintering birds Common Merganser and Great Cormorant were also recorded in Bheri River.
4
Capacity Enhancement Training to Local NGO and Community Awareness One day awareness programme was organized at Lanha-6, Pokhara, Jajarkot district on 20 February 2015 to raise awareness and familiarize local communities and stakeholders on vulture conservation issues and role of local stakeholders for the conservation of vultures. Krishna Bhusal and Ishwari Prasad Chaudhary from BCN presented the status and importance of vulture, conservation approach and the role of local communities to safeguard them from verge of extinction. Govinda Singh from DLSO, Jajarkot and Badri Panta from BEDC explained on importance of birds and biodiversity for human beings and how to conserve these resources locally. Altogether 45 individuals were participated in the veterinary pharmacies, local club, political leader, teachers, journalist and social activist. Some focal person of community and member of local NGO Barekot Environmental and Development Campaign (BEDC) were trained for vulture identification and nest monitoring.
School Education Programme School is knowledge generating house that may impact directly to change the attitude of society via light of education. Thus to familiarize the school children and teachers with vulture conservation issues in Nepal and its ecological role in nature; various school education programme were conducted in different six schools in the vicinity of vulture nesting site of Jajarkot in which a total of 669 students and 40 teachers participated. Posters and fliers with key message of vulture conservation were distributed among them. Krishna Bhusal and Ishwari Prasad Chaudhary from BCN, Govinda Singh from District Livestock Service Office, Jajarkot, and Badri Pant from Barekot Environmental and Development Campaign, Jajarkot facilitated the programme.
5
The list of the schools with dates and no. of participants benefitted from the education programme are listed in the following table:
S. Participant Name of Schools Address Date No. No. 1 Indra Dhanush lower 126(Students=121, Lanha-6, Pokhara, 24 February secondary school Teachers=5) Jajarkot 2015 2 Bhagawati lower Secondary 88(Students=84, Shakla-1, Laikham, 24 February School Teachers=4) Jajarkot 2015 3 Juni Val Secondary School 175(Students=166, Lanha-8, Shirke, 25 February Teachers=9) Jajarkot 2015 4 Vishow Lower Secondary 104(Students=98, Shakla-2, Sepukhola, 25 February School Teachers=6) Jajarkot 2015
5 Deepandra Secondary 119(Students=112, Shakla-8, 27 February School Teachers=7) Jajarkot 2015 6 Sita Secondary School 97(Students=88, Nayakbanda-8, 27 February Teachers=9) Karkijiula, Jajarkot 2015
Jajarkot District Declared as Diclofenac Free Zone Jajarkot district was declared as ‘46th Vet Diclofenac Free District’ in Nepal on 5 February 2015 on the stewardship of local government authorities. The programme was organized by district livestock service office (DLSO) of Jajarkot and supported by Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN). Chief Guest of the programme Jagat Bahadur Basnet, Chief District Officer (CDO), Jajarkot declared the district as Diclofenac Free Zone on the basis of technical study report of District Livestock Service Office and Bird Conservation Nepal. In the program Kapil Prasad Upadhyaya, acting Chief of District Livestock Service Office Jajarkot, presented the current status of NSAIDs in Jajarkot and effect of diclofenac on vultures. Other guest of the program were Gyan Raj Pandey, Local Development Officer at District Development Committee, Jajarkot, Shiv Raj Sedai, District Forest Officer at District Forest Office, Jajarkot and representative from district level stakeholders, veterinary practitioners, veterinary pharmacy owners, media persons and
6 political leaders. Altogether 43 people were participated in the program. The project site (i.e. Jajarkot district) occupies 2230 Sq. km area as a part of Provisional Vulture Safe Zone in Nepal.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
By the end of this project, the district was declared as veterinary Diclofenac Free Zone and habitat for vultures explored, breeding success and population status were documented. The level of understanding among the general public increased in that newly explored vulture habitat. Barekot area (Sakla, Lanha, Nayabanda, Bhagwati, Ragda, Rami danda and Rokaya Gaun VDCs) occupying an area of 82922 ha. has been recommended as new Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in Nepal. The active participation of stakeholders in project execution has added the hope of vulture conservation works to be continued in future in Jajarkot district. The findings of the study especially ecological monitoring of Red-headed Vulture and confirmation of Cheer Pheasant will be useful to researchers, district resources planners, policy makers, government bodies and other related stakeholders. School students were made aware on the issues so that they will spread the message of vulture conservation. Local NGO focal persons, community forest user groups, veterinary practitioners and farmers were trained on monitoring and vulture identification which will support vulture conservation in the area.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS