Egyptian vultures fitted with satellite tags to study migration patterns

Conservation activists in Pokhara have used satellite tags on endangered Egyptian vultures to study their migration patterns and movements, and identify threats.

Five Egyptian vultures in Pokhara have been fitted with satellite tags and released in the wild. This study aims to examine the activities of these tagged vultures to identify the problems and threats they are facing.

Krishna Bhusal, a vulture expert who has been studying and working in the conservation of vultures for a long time, is conducting this research as part of his PhD study to identify the threats to Egyptian vultures. Previously, satellite tag studies have been conducted on five of the six resident vulture species found in Nepal. Bhusal stated that this is the first time a study to identify threats to Egyptian vultures has been initiated.

The satellite tags allow researchers to track where the vultures go. Researchers can study their flight times, locations visited, nesting sites, and flight altitudes, among other details. According to Bhusal, the study will also reveal their main resting and feeding sites. If tagged vultures become sick or injured, they can be located and rescued based on their movement patterns. Even if a tagged vulture dies, a post-mortem examination can be conducted to determine its physical condition, Bhusal explained.

It is estimated that there are about 1,000 Egyptian vultures in Nepal. Unlike other vultures that primarily feed on animal carcasses, Egyptian vultures also consume small meat scraps and insects that grow on waste, thus helping to clean the environment. Studies have shown that Pokhara has the highest concentration of Egyptian vultures in Nepal. According to Bhusal, Pokhara is home to about 50 percent of the total Egyptian vulture population recorded in the country. After Pokhara, Tanahu district and Arghakhanchi also have significant populations of Egyptian vultures. This species nests on cliffs in the mid-hills and occasionally in trees in the Terai region.

Ankit Bilas Joshi, the Vulture Conservation Program Chief at Bird Conservation Nepal, said that the study will provide information on the breeding rate and lifespan of Egyptian vultures, as well as identify the threats they are facing.

All nine species of vultures found in Nepal can be observed in Pokhara. The Pokhara Valley, nestled in the lap of the Annapurna Himalayas, is considered a paradise for vultures. Six species—Himalayan Griffon, Bearded, Slender-billed, White-rumped, Red-headed, and Egyptian vultures—are resident in Nepal. The remaining three species—Eurasian Griffon, Cinereous Vulture, and Indian Vulture—are winter visitors. All nine species of vultures found in South Asia can be seen in the Pokhara Valley. All six resident species of vultures nest and breed in Kaski district.

The Egyptian vulture subspecies found in Europe, Africa, and Central Asia differs from the subspecies found in India and Nepal. The European, African, and Central Asian subspecies migrate during winter, while the subspecies found in Nepal and India have not been studied in detail. This is why the study of migration patterns, movements, and threat identification for the Egyptian vultures found here has been initiated, said Bhusal.

Vladimir Dobrev, a vulture scientist from Bulgaria, expressed his happiness at being able to directly observe and participate in vulture conservation and research work in Nepal. He came to Nepal after learning about the satellite tagging of Egyptian vultures to observe the process firsthand and exchange experiences.

Bird enthusiasts from various countries come to Nepal to observe, photograph, and research vultures, raptors, and water birds.

Ramji Gautam, who holds a PhD in white-rumped vultures, suggests that Pokhara could be developed as a bird tourism destination while conserving all bird species and the region's biodiversity.