Vultures reappear in Bajura after long absence

By Sher Bahadur Sarki

Bajura, May 12: Vultures have started reappearing in Bajura District after a long absence, locals said. Once commonly seen around villages, forests, grazing fields and riverbanks, the birds had gradually disappeared from the area.

In the past, dead cattle such as cows, buffalo, and oxen were often left in open areas, attracting large numbers of vultures. However, locals said the birds began disappearing after road access expanded and livestock trading increased. 

Buffaloes were increasingly sold to India through Kailali, while cows and oxen were taken towards China. Dead animals were also buried underground instead of being left in the open, leaving vultures without food.

Now, with local governments giving priority to cattle farming and villagers again leaving old or diseased dead animals near riverbanks, vultures have started returning in search of carrion.

Dammar Luhar of Sherkatiya in Budhinanda Municipality said vultures are being seen in villages again after many years. “When we were children, vultures were very common in the village. Later, they disappeared completely. Now they are returning to feed on dead cattle,” he said.

Although vultures are often viewed as violent, dirty and unpleasant birds, they do not hunt live animals. Instead, they feed only on carcasses and play an important role in keeping the environment clean. Because they consume dead animals, vultures are often called “nature’s scavengers”. They also help maintain ecological balance and the natural food chain.

Experts said that in the absence of vultures, carcasses remain exposed for longer periods, leading to an increase in stray dogs, jackals and rats. This can contribute to the spread of diseases such as rabies, plague, cholera and diarrhoea among humans, and anthrax, brucellosis and tuberculosis among livestock. 

According to one study, a single vulture contributes the equivalent of around 11,000 US dollars in carcass disposal services during its lifetime.

Chief of the District Forest Office, Suresh Chandra DC, said there are 23 species of vultures worldwide and nine species found in Nepal and other parts of South Asia. “When vultures cannot find carcasses to feed on, they disappear from villages. Dead cattle should not always be buried underground,” he said.

He added that the use of medicines and chemicals in carcasses has also caused vultures to die, contributing to their decline. He stressed the need for conservation and promotion of vultures rather than practices harmful to them. According to him, the District Forest Office in Bajura has allocated funds for vulture conservation and protection initiatives.