Vulture distribution and people perception of vultures in Pokhara Valley, Nepal

Abstract

Due to an abundance and diversity of vultures, Nepal is one of the most important countries for vulture conservation. Within Nepal, the Pokhara Valley is especially significant. We examine the distribution of vultures within the Pokhara Valley by conducting counts at 11 potential feeding or roosting sites using point count method. We further surveyed people of the valley regarding their perception of vulture ecology and conservation, knowledge of diclofenac use within the valley, and burial of livestock carcasses. We detected eight species of vultures, four of which are currently threatened with extinction. White-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis, Egyptian vulture Nephron percnopterus, and Himalayan vulture G. himalayensis were the most abundant. Almost all respondents (98%) had sighted the vultures in the wild. Formally educated respondents reported seeing vultures' slightly more than nonformally educated respondents. Fifty-eight percent respondents suspected habitat loss was the major threat for the vulture population decline in Pokhara Valley, and 97% respondents were not aware of any diclofenac use. The knowledge of vultures in people with different age groups suggests a more awareness programs are needed for local people, especially those who carry out animal husbandry and provide livestock to the vulture restaurant.

Keywords: abundance; birds; conservation; habitat loss; population; vulture.

FIGURE 1

Map of the Kaski District and the location of the Kaski District within Nepal (inset). Circles indicate vulture survey locations and are scaled by their overall relative abundance. Gray shading indicates World Wildlife Fund Ecoregions (Olson et al., 2001)

FIGURE 2

Relative abundance of vulture species per survey site within the Kaski District of Nepal. These relative abundances represent the median (dots) value of a given species during individual surveys. Thin lines represent the range between the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles. Note that the axes in panels (a) and (b) are scaled differently such that sites with higher vulture abundances are in panel (a). CV = Cinareous Vulture, EV = Egyptian Vulture, GV = Griffon Vulture, HG = Himalayan Vulture, RHV = Red‐headed Vulture, SBV = Slender‐billed Vulture, and WRV = White‐rumped Vulture

FIGURE 3

Differences in perceptions of respondents regarding whether they normally see vultures in the study area, (a) formally educated respondents and (b) non‐formally educated respondents

FIGURE 4

Differences in perceptions of respondents regarding where they normally see vultures’ nest in the study area, (a) formally educated respondents and (b) non‐formally educated respondents

FIGURE 5

Differences in perceptions of respondents regarding the usefulness of vultures in the study area, (a) formally educated respondents and (b) non‐formally educated respondents

FIGURE 6

Awareness of respondents on diclofenac/other toxic chemical use in livestock and carcass with different age groups, (a) formally educated respondents and (b) non‐formally educated respondents

FIGURE 7

Respondents view whether vulture population in the wild in increasing or decreasing in the study area, (a) formally educated respondents and (b) non‐formally educated respondents