New Rare, Endangered Bird Species Found in Nepal

Three rare bird species belonging to the bird family of Accipitridae were spotted in a community forest in Gorkha

Nepal is known for its rich biodiversity profile backed by a supportive climate that favors various kinds of flora and fauna.

Over the years, the Himalayan nation has left its unique mark in conserving and identifying various endangered species. Here is another update from the country on similar lines!

According to a recent update, three rare species of birds belonging to the bird family of Accipitridae were spotted in a community forest in Gorkha region.

The community forest is already home to 99 species of bird varieties and researchers were happy about finding three new species: White-Rumped Vulture, Asian Woolyneck Stork and Steppe Eagle.

This is the result of a seven-month-long research by Kushal Shrestha and his team in the region. As part of their research, the team also found another bird called ‘Spiny Babbler’ found to be available only in Nepal.

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New restrictions on vulture-killing drugs in Pakistan

15/06/2018

Vulture populations in South Asia have collapsed by over 95 per cent since the mid-1990s. The primary cause of this catastrophic decline, and still an ongoing threat, is the ingestion by vultures of livestock carcasses containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), principally diclofenac. Although diclofenac was banned from veterinary use in Pakistan, India and Nepal in 2006, other NSAIDs such as aceclofenac and ketoprofen still pose a major threat to Critically Endangered vultures.

WWF-Pakistan and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in the UK have been partners on the Pakistan Vulture Restoration Project (PVRP) to conserve vultures in Pakistan for the past 12 years. The project consists of a vulture breeding centre in Punjab province and a community-led vulture safe zone in Sindh province, where some of Pakistan's last remaining colonies of Critically Endangered White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures are found.

PVRP has continued lobbying for the removal of veterinary drugs which are unsafe for vultures. In a recent letter to the Department of Health for Sindh, the Secretary was urged to restrict the distribution of ketoprofen and aceclofenac in Sindh's Vulture Safe Zone. As a result, the Chief Drug Inspector of Sindh ordered all regional and district drug inspectors to restrict the use of these drugs.

Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal at WWF-Pakistan said: "NSAIDs such as ketoprofen and aceclofenac have proven to be fatal for Gyps vultures in clinical trials and their restriction in the Sindh will contribute significantly in the survival of the remaining populations of Gyps vultures in Pakistan."

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Vulture species not spotted in 3 years

Goa

Sat,06 Jan 2018

Summary: Panaji: Two species of vultures — the long-billed vulture and the white-romped vulture — spotted in the state in the past, have reportedly not been seen for the last three years. "I haven't seen a single vulture in Goa for three years now," said principal chief conservator of forests, Ajay Saxena.Goa used to be a breeding site for the two species of vultures. Goa's bird watching conservation network and other birders, who frequent these sites, also act as a deterrent for anyone looking to harm them, he added. Compared to states like Arunachal Pradesh, where they tend to fly away no sooner they see a human lift a pair of binoculars, birds in Goa continue to throng the state's wetlands without fear, Saxena said. Although the drug is now banned, other medicines, pollution, pesticides and lack of carcasses to feed on are affecting the vulture population.Bombay Natural History Society scientist Dr Vibhu Prakash will deliver a key note address on the conservation of vultures on January 12 at the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.Bird hunting is not common in the state.

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