Vulture feeding

In the last decade, vulture-feeding stations have been set up in Nepal – and similar programs exist in Africa and Europe. Vulture feeding stations in Nepal called Jatayu restaurants, which are run by local communities in support of many conservation organizations. Main aim of these feeding stations is to provide safe food for vulture.

 On many farms on the Indian subcontinent, the veterinary drug diclofenac had been used to treat domestic livestock when they developed pain, inflammation, fever and arthritis. Even a trace of diclofenac in a cow carcass can poison numerous vultures. Numerous vultures can exposed to diclofenac when they feed on livestock carcasses with residues of this drug. After the ingestion of diclofenac contaminated food, the vultures die due to visceral gout and kidney failure.  In south Asian countries, veterinary diclofenac was widely available for sale since late 1990s, same time as decline began.  In 2000, three vulture species, White-backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) and Indian (long-billed) vulture (Gyps indicus) declined by over 97% and listed as critically endangered. Similarly, in 2006 two more species Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) were decline by 91% and 80% respectively, listed as critically endangered and endangered respectively by IUCN 2007. In 2010, similar decline was observed in Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) (84%) and Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) (80%) population from Nepal.

Vulture feeding at restaurant

Why Jatayu restaurants?

• Jatayu restaurants provide a source of food that is free of contamination from veterinary drugs, poisons and agricultural chemicals.
• They provide supplementary food, which helps to increase vulture-breeding success.
• They offer a natural and practical way for disposing carcass.
• They offer a place for scientists to study vulture ecology and nature photographers to take a picture of these majestic creatures.

Seeing vulture feeding

Feeding stations are ideal place to watch vulture closely, photograph and enjoy yourself. We have six vulture feeding stations in Nepal. I would like to provide brief information about them 

Jatayu restaurant Pithauli: This is the first community managed vulture feeding station in the world and was established in 2007. It is just beyond the western edge of Chitwan National Park inside buffer zone forest. Chitwan National Park has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, includes a Ramsar Site – Twenty Thousand Lake and has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. The Jatayu restaurant Pithauli is only 4 km south from highway town Kawasoti in Nawalparasi district. At the restaurant, observers sit in a wooden hide that holds up to 12 people approximately 50 meters from the carcass. White-rumped vulture is the most common species seen here. Beside this Slender-billed vulture, Indian vulture, Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), Red headed vulture, Egyptian vulture, Himalayan vulture and Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) come to feed here. Numerous juvenile and Sub-adult Himalayan vulture migrate to this are during the winter. In the adjacent forest, you can find more other raptors and many birds including globally threatened Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilis javanicus). Other raptors easily seen seen here includes Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus calidus), Shikra (Accipiter badius), Black kite (Milvus migrans), Crested Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela) and Crested Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus). It is still possibility to see many other raptors on further exploration.

Jatayu restaurant, Lumbini: This feeding station is approximately 15 km north of the town called Lumbini that was the birthplace of Buddha. It is located inside Gaidatal (under the name of small lake called Gaindahawa) Community Forest of Bishnupura VDC. The vulture species seen are similar as in Pithauli, However many farmland/grassland birds can be seen in the Farmlands of Lumbini, Important Bird Area (IBA). In the nearby farmlands and community managed forest, Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) Indian Spotted-eagle (Aquila hastata), Pied harrier (Circus melanoleucos), Black Shouldered-kite (Elanus caeruleus), Crested Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela), White-eyed Buzzard (Butastur teesa), Common kestrel (Falco tinnenculus), Shikra (Accipiter badius), Eurasian Sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus) and Crested Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) can be seen. Other important bird seen include Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), Storks and many water birds.

Different species of vulture perched near vulture restaurant

 Jatayu restaurant Ghachowk: About 15 km northeast of beautiful city called Pokhara, this restaurant was established in 2010, and is located in a river valley in the foothills of Himalayas. The restaurant is about an hour’s drive via taxi from city, and then a 20 minutes’ walk down into the gorge. Along the way, vultures can be photographed flying and perching on nearby low cliffs. At the restaurant, observers sit in a well-constructed hide that holds up to 10 people approximately 25 meters from the carcass. Himalayan vulture is most common species here, both adults and juvenile birds can be seen. Beside this species White-rumped vulture and Red-headed vulture, Slender-billed vulture, Egyptian vulture and Cinereous vulture also come to feed here.

There are three additional Jatayu restaurants further west. Two are in Dang District roughly 125 km west from the restaurant at Lumbini: Lalmatiya and Bijouri. Finally, in the far southwestern part of Nepal in Kailali District. Vulture species seen are similar to other lowland restaurants. Vulture breeding colonies can be visit from almost all feeding sites. Where large numbers of White-rumped vulture breed, however we can find few nests of Slender-billed and Egyptian vulture. 

Below is the additional video clip of vulture feeding inside tall grasses during rainy season: