Kasara's vulture breeding centre to be closed

By Saligram Nepal

Chitwan, Apr. 28: The vulture breeding centre at Kasara in Chitwan National Park will be closed. According to officials, the breeding has not been effective and the number of vultures is also increasing in the open itself. 

The centre, which was established 14 years ago, has so far raised 18 chicks.  It is going to close after it failed to raise any chicks in the last three years. Chief Conservation Officer of the park, Hari Bhadra Acharya, said that the vultures have become more numerous in nature and the breeding centre is not effective for now. Established in 2008, the centre was started by bringing eggs and vultures from the nature. The vulture conservation programme is being organised through Jatayu restaurants focusing on vultures in the nature. Currently, there are only 10 vultures in the breeding centre .

Some time ago, 10 vultures were taken to Jatayu Restaurant in Pithauli, Nawalparasi and later on they were released after being kept in cage for a few months.

According to Acharya, there is a plan to take 10 vultures of Chitwan after releasing others from the Breeding Centre. The breeding centre will be closed from July. Although the vultures have laid eggs for the last three years, they have not been able to hatch. Emphasis has been made on conservation in nature as it seems to be more effective than artificial breeding, Acharya said.

In 2015, not a single baby hatched from seven eggs. In 2016, nine babies hatched from 15 eggs, but one died. In 2017, six chicks hatched from 21 eggs.

In 2018, two chicks hatched from 20 eggs and since then no baby has been hatched.  According to the park, 19 eggs were laid in 2019 and 14 in 2020, but they were unable to be hatched. Even though 12 eggs were laid last year, they could not hatch.

A total of 49 vultures have been released in the wild, including vultures brought from outside. Vultures have been released in nature since 2017.  For the first time in the world, Nepal has raised endangered vultures in captivity and released them into the wild. Currently, vultures are being protected through Jatayu Restaurant in Dang, Kailali and Koshitappu along with Nawalparasi.