The population collapse of resident Gyps vulture species in South Asia, caused by the use of a veterinary drug diclofenac, has highlighted an urgent need to monitor numbers of other vulture species in the region. This organization is being involved in monitoring of Himalayan Griffon and Bearded Vulture in Upper Mustang of Nepal.
Programs completed
Monitoring of raptors in Upper Mustang in Nepal (2002-2005), read more.....
Programs being continued
Monitoring of vulture in sky burial site in Upper Mustang.
If a local person dies, the Lama, who are the special religious leader and respected holy person of the area decides how to carry out the funeral rites. A few specific caste like Bista usually burn the small portion of dead body part but the major caste of the area, like Gurung which constitutes more than 90% population chops down the dead body in many fine pieces and offer to vultures. Lama invites the vulture by praying and blowing his trumpet or bell. If vultures do not visit the corpse it is believed that the person has committed some great sins during his/her life time. In respect of location there are two funeral sites used in summer and winter season separately. Choppers are well trained people enriched also by their own experience. Such funeral rites are prohibited in agricultural harvesting season (extreme climate change if they do so) so the body is chopped into many pieces and thrown to river. Thus instead of vulture the dead body is offered to aquatic life. Local people, who all are Buddhist in religion, believe that vulture take the soul of dead person in the heaven. FON Nepal is collecting information from a site from the Upper Mustang Nepal.
Monitoring of Himalayan Griffon and Bearded Vulture in Upper Mustang (next monitoring will be conducted in July-August 2009).
Future Programs
Establish new site in Manang district for vulture monitoring
Documentation of ethno-vulture information from the area
