A Day for Vultures

In order to raise awareness for vulture conservation and educate the public about the threats facing these noble and majestic birds, September 3, 2011 has been designated as International Vulture Awareness Day.

Why is there an awareness day for vultures?

Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. Vultures worldwide are under tremendous threat – and three species of Gyps vulture are now in danger of extinction.

Gyps vultures in the Indian subcontinent have undergone dramatic decline in numbers since the mid of 1990s, with decline in excess of 97% for three Gyps species. The vultures were the victims of widespread poisoning by use of Diclofenac in livestock.

Critically endangered Gyps vultures:

·         White-backed/White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

·         Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)

·         Indian Vulture/Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus).

The International Vulture Awareness Day has grown from Vulture Awareness Days run by the Birds of Prey Programme in South Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England, who decided to work together and expand the initiative into an international event.
It is now recognised that a co-ordinated international day will publicise the conservation of vultures to a wider audience and highlight the important work being carried out by the world’s vulture conservationists.

Bird Conservation Nepal ( www.birdlifenepal.org) is organizing various national and local events to celebrate IVAD 2011.

We're going BIG this year!