CHITWAN: The conservation of
critically endangered white-rumped vultures conducted by the Vulture
Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) in Kasara, Chitwan National Park (CNP) is
in progress.
The VCBC was established in 2007
to conduct captive breeding of critically endangered vulture species that have
gone through catastrophic decline across South Asia.
Currently, there are 57
white-rumped vultures in VCBC. Of the total, 25 are males and 24 females while
eight others are babies which have not been identified yet. Agriculture and
Forestry University Rampur, Chitwan has been conducting DNA tests on the
scavenger birds to identify their gender.
Although it was difficult to
hatch the eggs in the beginning, six out of 18 eggs were hatched this season at
the centre that conducted breeding of vultures brought from different places,
according to Supervisor of VCBC, CNP Assistant Conservation Officer Bed Bahadur
Khadka.
Last year, 15 vultures had laid
eggs, but only nine of them hatched. The scavenger birds had laid eggs for the
first time in 2012 but were unable to hatch out. Nevertheless, they hatched for
the first time in 2013. In the following year, no eggs were laid, but an egg
was hatched successfully in 2015.
The conservation of critically
endangered vultures has been expedited to facilitate growth in their
population, CNP Assistant Conservation Officer and Information Officer Nurendra
Aryal said. The breeding has played a significant role in conservation of the
near-extinct birds as many of them have been set free into the nature, Aryal
added.
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