Four vulture species successfully breed in Arghakhanchi

Arghakhanchi. Arghakhanchi district is being established as a safe habitat for rare and endangered vultures. Four species of vultures have successfully bred in the district during this year's breeding season.

A total of 33 chicks have successfully flown from the nest so far, informed vulture expert Krishna Bhusal. According to him, chicks have hatched and flown from the nests in various areas of the district this year with encouraging success. In the forest areas of Chhatradev Rural Municipality, the globally rare and critically endangered Himalayan vulture had built 23 nests on pine trees. He informed that chicks have successfully flown from 15 of these nests.

In the Gherabhir area of Malarani Rural Municipality, the Himalayan vulture had built 22 nests and the bone-breaker vulture had built three nests. Of these, 16 nests of Himalayan vultures and two nests of bone-breaker vultures have successfully hatched chicks. According to Bhusal, these vultures lay only one egg once a year. Generally, the breeding cycle, which starts from Ashwin-Kartik, lasts until Baishakh-Jeth, so it takes a long time to raise one chick.

Meanwhile, the globally rare and endangered white vulture is also raising chicks in six different locations in Sandhikharka, Bhumikasthan, Malarani, and Shittaganga municipalities. Bhusal said that the breeding of this species starts a little later compared to other vultures, so it is still raising chicks.

The continuous successful breeding in recent years in Arghakhanchi, conservation of suitable habitat, availability of sufficient food, and the awareness of the local community towards conservation have played an important role in increasing the number and breeding success of vultures, said Keshav Khadka, Information Officer of the Division Forest Office, Arghakhanchi.

Arghakhanchi is now being recognized as an important district for the conservation of vultures, which are on the verge of extinction globally. The successful breeding of four species of vultures this year and the successful flight of 33 chicks are considered a significant achievement for the conservation of the district's biodiversity, said Information Officer Khadka.