Study of vultures in Western Lowland of Nepal Submitted to: The Oriental Bird Club, U.K. By: Jeet Bahadur Giri and Som G.e. In association with: Bird Conservation Nepal, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Himalayan Nature July, 2002 Table of contents Acknowledgements Background Geography and bio-diversity of the reserve Objectives Materials and methods Results Discussions Recommendations References Tables and figures Appendices Acknowledgements We are most grateful to The Oriental Bird Club (OBC), U.K. for the generous financial support towards this study programme. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr T. M. Maskey, former Director General, Dr. Swoyambhuman Amatya, Director General, Narayan Paudel, Deputy Director General at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. We would also like to thank Surya Bahadur Pandey, Warden at Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. Our special thanks go to Carol and Tirn Inskipp for their constant encouragement to Nepalese ornithologists for conservation and research into avian science. Similarly, we extend thanks to Dr. Hem Sagar Baral, President at Bird Conservation Nepal for his continued support. King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, Bardia Office, Hirnalayan Nature, Koshi Camp and Institute of Forestry (Hetauda) helped us during the various stages of the project. Ram Dev Chaudhury and Ramesh Yadav (Ranger) Sheshnarayan Chaudhary (Game Scout) at Suklaphanta, Jeet Bahadur Khadka and Amrit Babu Karki at Bardia, provided assistance in the field. We would like to pay many thanks to all. Background Nepal has exceptionally rich bird diversity because of its position between the meeting point of two large zoo geographical realms (The Pale arctic and Oriental) and the great variation in altitude, topography and hence the vegetation and micro environments. A total of 857 bird species have been recorded in Nepal (BCN 2002) which covers an area of 1,47,181 Sq. Km It has been noted that nearly 650 bird species breed within the country and as many as 130 species are considered as threatened species (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991, Baral et aL 1996). Nepal holds as many as 29 globally threatened species (BirdLife International 2000). Nine species are feared already extinct from the country because of habitat loss, hunting, trapping poisoning, pesticides, food/prey shortage (Baral et al. 1996). Only nine species of birds have been kept in protected bird list in the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973 of the HMG, Nepal. More or less upto date information has been known and well documented about the general bird distribution, species richness and overall status of birds especially that of protected areas (Inskipp and Inskipp 1989, Baral and Upadhyay 1998, Baral 2000, Karki and Thapa 2001). Much has been known about the general bird distribution and species richness in Nepal (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). Similarly, some globally threatened species, as categorized by BirdLife International 2000, have been well studied by the following scholars: Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis (Inskipp and Inskipp 1983, Pokharel and Dhakal 1998, Tamang and Baral 2000, Timilsina et al. 2000), Sarus Crane Grus antigone (Suwal 1999), Swamp Francolin Francolinus gular is (Baral 1998a, Dahal 2000), Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilosjavanicus (Pokharel, 1998), Hodgson's Bushchat (BaraI1998b). This has greatly helped for the avian conservation and research within Nepal. Unfortunately so far no study on vultures has been conducted in Nepal before 2000 besides general records of their numbers. Vultures are the largest flying birds in Nepal and are closely associated with human kinds in different ways. They are the most efficient scavenger of the nature and help to maintain the clean sanitation. Therefore, they prevent the outbreak of epidemics and reduce the foul odor by cleaning the carcasses before they purify and thereby help to keep sound environment around us (Giri and Baral, 2001). The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), resident of below 1000 m. and recorded upto 1800 m. in Summer, has been the most common and wide spread vulture of lowland Nepal (Fleming et. ai, 1984, Inskip and I nskipp , 1991). It is found west from Pakistan (Baluchistan), east through Assam and Manipur, South from Kashmir and along the Himalayas including Nepal, through the Peniensula to Kanyakumari (Ali and Ripley, 1987). Long billed Vulture complex (Gyps indica indicus and Gyps indica tenuirostris) has been well studied and now suggestion is to treat former two subspecies as full biological species (Rasumussen and Parry, 2000). The Slender-billed vulture (Gyps indica tenuirostris) is believed to occur in Nepal (Inskipp and Inskipp, 1991). The Cliffvulture, Gyps indicus, may occur in Nepal but there is no confIrmed record yet (Giri and Baral, 2001). Decline in vultures have been noticed for ten or more years in Southeast Asia and India (Thiollay, 2000). Pesticides are known to affect bird population in a slowly and gradually (Satheesan, 1999a). The White-rumped Vulture was "resident and wide spread" in Thai Malay Peninsula previously become "local and sparse" now (Wells, 1999). However since 1997, the White-rumped Vulture have been deserting at alarming rate in parts of northern India and lowland Nepal (Risebrough, 1999, Rahmani 1999, Prakash, 1999). Significant population declines of vultures may have gone unnoticed for many years simply because they were so abundant. In Keolado National Park of India, the numbers of active 3 nests of White-rumped Vulture have decline to 353, 150, 25, 20 and none in the year 1987/88, 1996/97, 1998/99 and 1999/2000 respectively. A total of265 dead White-rumbed and 29 Slender-billed vultures were recorded in 1999 only. In 1987 to 1999, a total of96% of White-rumped and 97% of Long billed population ?eclineq..i}:1 Keolado only (Prakash 1999). l I ) Vultures have been declining in many parts especially the White-rumped and long billed. It was reported that they had breed in Kathmandu Valley as recent as 1950s (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). On average of 30 - 40 White-rumped Vultures were regularly noted in Kathmandu valley in 1980 to 1982 (Inskipp 1980, 81,82). Only a few (3 in Feb. 1991 and 2 in Feb.1993) number of White-rumped Vultures were recorded in Kathmandu valley (Baral 1991, 1993b). A bird survey in Gokarna land fill site Kathmandu in 1996 recorded no any vulture species (Giri 1996, Panthi 1996). Almost no records of these birds came from Kathmandu valley during last four years. Very small number of white-rumped and Long billed Vultures were recorded in Chitwan and Bardia National Parks in 2001 in camparison to 1982 and these two species are almost entirely absent in eastern and central Nepal in 2001 (Inskipp and Inskipp 2001). No any vultures nest has been recorded from Chitwan National Park since last five years, once a major breeding strong hold of White-rumped Vultures previously, except few flying individuals. ____ --- ---------_~~_~ p=-,--~-~---~-~-~ru ~~ -~"~'"~~_=c~"_"~<,,~" (the~ large number of vultures (38 White-rumped Vultures and 13 long billed vulture and 12 .... ') ( Eurasian griffons (Gyps fulvus) recorded at Suklaphanta on April 23, 2001. It is a far higll~'<, \~_!~~lt_()f theyultures f~~~~::~J§~~_~~e~UfvlSiCo{Neplri-irr-20tn;-allii a _._~~~\ sig~tly-highe1'~ti')fa±mlYfIellock than has beenr~-ror-dedb'y other observe in t4~Jast·ye-ar· (Inskipp and Inskipp, 2001).··· ..- .- Vulture population in Koshi area also sharply decreased last year in comparison to last few years (Giri and BaraI2001). Sixty-one vulture nests of last decreased to twelve this year. Out of these sixty-one and twelve nests of 2001 and 2002 only nineteen and two nests were fledged the chicks respectively. A total of forty-six dead vultures were recorded last years while only three were recorded this year. Thus there is massive decline of White-rumped Vulture in Koshi area this year in comparison to last year. Geography and bio-diversity of the reserve Location Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is located in the Far-Western Terai, on the southwest edge of Nepal in an elevation of 176 m from see level. It covers an area of 305 Sq. km. and lies between 80025'E and 28°35'N. It protects last remaining herd of Swamp Deer (Cervus duvaucelli) along with Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris), Wild Elephant (Elephus maximus) and other important wildlives. The reserve and its surrounding areas are comprised of flood plains of various river system, like the Mahakali, Bahuni, Radha Syali and Chaudhar with hill wash and alluvial deposits (Baral, 1998b). Geography The Suklaphanta offers a variety of new experiences with its diverse interior and abundant geological features, flora, fauna and other components. Forests, streams and rivers, lakes and several large phantas (grasslands) like, Singpur Phanta, Barkaula Phanta, Radhapur Phanta, Thilmila, Mangalsera, Malumela, SuklaPhanta etc comprise the good habitat of the reserve. Amongthem Suklaphanta is the largest one and regarded as core habitat of Swamp Deer 4 (Currently more than 2500 individuals) for which the reserve is named. Vegetation and habitat diversity Basically, following major types of habitats have been found in Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. (a) Sal dominated forests which covers the major forest areas ofthe reserve. (b) Mixed forests which covers an average of 20% of total forest area and found different tree species in mixed distribution pattern like Shorea sobusta, Terminalia tomentosa, Syzygium cuminii, Plerocarpus marsupium. (c) Riverine forests of Sissoo, Khair and other broad-leaved tree species which extends an average area of 20% of the total forest area and runs along the riversides. (d) Wetlands/Marsh areas which dominated by marsh/aquatic vegetation along with tall grasses around like Phragmites karka, Saccharum munj etc. Ranital, Sikautal, Salghandital and other river sites serve as wetland habitat for many birds, mammals, herpetofauna and other wildlife. (e) Grassland/Phanta areas the main feature of the RSWR is the occurrence of several large open field of grasses known as phanta and cover the major area of the reserve. The dominant grass species found in phanta are Saccharum spantaneum, Saccharum munj, Imperata cylindrica, Vertiverica zizanioides, Pragmites kallt, Heteropogon contortus etc. Bombax ceiba, Albezzia pro cera, Ficus religiosa, Bueia frondosa are the major tree species growing along the periphery of the phantas, which provide good nesting habitat for the vultures. Other important flora found in the reserve are Trewia nudijlora, Terminalia chebula, Schima wallichii, Anthocephalus cadampa, Adina cardifolia, ficus glomerata, Dillenia pentagyna, Aegle marmelos, Phyllanthus emblica, Lagerstromia parvijlora, Codrela tooma, Butia monosparma, Dalbergia sissoo, Mallotus phillipinensis, Bauhinia vahlii, Terminalia belarica, Albezzia pro cera, Ficus religiosa, Calotropis pro cera, Dalbergia latifolia, Ficus lacor. Bahunia vahlii, Vitis latifolia, Dioscorea deltoidea, Wendlandia puberula etc. are the main vines found in the reserve (Velde, 1997). Faunal diversity Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve serves as a home for many endangered, rare and common species. It harbors good number of Wild Elephant, Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard (Pantherna pardus), Swamp, Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) , Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Langur (Presbytis entellus), Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Python (Python molurus), Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), and other many common Wildlife (DNPWC, 2000). A total of 372 bird species has been recorded in this relatively small reserve (Baral and Inskipp in prep.). This reserve is especially important for grassland birds. In addition to supporting the country's most important population of Bengal Floricans, (Inskipp and Inskipp, 1983), it hosts good population of three globally threatened grassland species, Bristled Grassbird and Finn's Weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus) and Hodgson's Bushchat (Saxicola insignis). The latter is a regular winter visitor (Baral 1998b). Other grassland specialties notably Bright-apped Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) , Rufous-rumped grassbird (Graminicola bengalensis) are fairly common and there is a small population of Jerdon's Bushchat (Saxicola j erdoni) (Inskipp and Inskipp, 2001). Besides these, it has White-rumped 5 Vulture, Slender-billed Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indica), Swamp Francolin (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros co ro natus) , Grass Owl (Tyto capensis), Striated Grassbird (Megalurus pa[ustris), Pallas's Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), Sarus Crane and many other important globally threatened avifauna are also the inhabitant ofthe reserve (Baral and Inskipp in prep.). Climate The reserve is under the tropical climate with more than 90% annual preCIpItation in monsoon season (June - September). The reserve has three seasons, the winter, spring and monsoon. The winter season starts in October and lasts in early March during which the weather is dry, the temperature decreased minimum of 7°C in January. The spring begins in March and lasts in June. April and May is the hottest months in which the temperature warm upto 37.49°C. The monsoon usually begins with early July to the end of September. The mean annual rainfall of last ten years was 1844 mm. and maximum rainfall (2446 mm) was recorded in 1998. M ean da ta of t emperat ure and rai n:f:a 11 0 fthe year 1991 t 0 2000 Year 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Mean Maximum Temperature 31.5 31.0 30.3 30.9 30.2 29.8 - 30.0 30.7 29.6 Mean Minimum Temperature 16.1 16.5 16.9 16.7 17.2 17.2 - - 17.4 17.2 Rainfall- Annual Total in mm. 1565 1257 1964 1617 2135 1643 1626 2446 - 2342.6 Maximum in month 136/ 154/ 142/ 112/ 190/ 1111 118/ 139/ - 158.8/ Aug. July Aug. Sept. July Aug. Sept. Aug. Aug. Source: Yearbooks of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Babar Mahal, Kathrnandu. Objectives /~... .-.-... -.... ----.~.- ///The main aims of this study were to assess the population of White-rumped and ._a""H"'V~ / / billed Vultures, to estimate the food availability, to quantify the mortality rate and breeding ,/ success in western lowland, Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. Therefore, the data / collection sheets were designed to answer at least the following points- I (a) Breeding success of both the vulture species. ( (b) Food/ carcasses availability. I (c) Number of dead vultures / mortality. ~ (d) Estimated population of White rumped and Slender-billed Vultures. -----------_.,-" ~-----~~-, .. -.----,. . " , .... " .. ~. _.-.., .-.--...- ,. -~. .... .-....... - l\1alerials"and.me1hoos---- A pr..-€ limimnyslitvey was thoroughly made throughout the reserve except the proposed buffer one and currently extended area. The preliminary survey was made especially in those areas ~ where many vulture nests and vulture movements were abundant in previo 5·-year~her ~ possib!~s.~~~~~:.~::lJ"S.() s~ve~edt~ro~g!Jll'"if.!~~re ~:~~_sllit~ble .habitaL/;r.riya, Barkaula -suklaplianta, Radhapur lhilmIla S mgapur, Raiijt:IT,Babalm,"'S1w.atttal"Mangalsera, Malull1ela areas were the localities of carefully surveyed. / Besides these, forests with tall trees were ilEio thoroughly-watched. The western Part, whI6h is the borderline of Nepal and India, was ~oroughlY surveyed. All possible important habitats were searched for vultures and t~ir ~:~~."".""" 6 The ne§tA:rees~were identified, permanently marked and nest number was given to minimize the' psk of data inter mixing. All nests were regularly monitored in every month and it was m~de possible by trained field assistants. Nest was recorded till mid-May. Number of and su~cessful nests were noted. Well-planned data sheets were used to conect the data. ' .... "'~~ - The Phantas were visited on foot to fmd the carcasses. Carcass types, conditions, number of vulture were also recorded properly. Not only the different sites of reserve, nearby villages were also surveyed in every field visit and data on carcasses were taken in the assistance of local people. But the interior part of the large phantas like, Suklaphanta was left due to\ security problems from wildlife. Regular visits below the nesting trees and roosting colonies were made in every field trip. The ground below the nesting/roosting colonies carefully searched. The species and age, plasses of dead vultures were noted and either permanently marked or removed to minimized) r ' f the chances of repetation in subsequent count. ~---=---=~~=~='""'"""'" "'-"""",'y~~"=,,"'"~~'-''' 0.telescope and a pair ~f binocu~,a:~~e~~~u~e<!,f~~,qi~1~CLvis~ali.z~tion.-Field book. by trflJl1lllett et al. 2000, Brrds'of Nepal was used to Identify the mdIvIdual vulture speCIes. Birds were counted at regtllar intervals"at'ciifferent-stttcly,sit-S€ -tOJ:lYl!fltify overall numbers. ~in-focus-was'glvent() White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures irlpoplliatiorreeunting. ,//"A total of four visit, each of at list four to five days, were made in every two months))y" (, researchers and who 1~.d~Y~,(Q§:Q()JoJI:QQhoJ:l[st~~[~Y~P~!1!,iE~t~~_~e.~~,: _____, __- ----/ iJ/ J Besides this, a pilot survey of vulture in Royal Bardia National Park andK.:1:fuirapl:1f.,an~a where a survey was made last year also completed. Vultures seen on the way Chitwa:n to" Bardia and Mahendranagar also recorded and nest status of possible nests located al0I?:SAhe road site were monitored in visit..",y_-",~,-~'~'/ Results Distribution of nests on different tree species is shown in table 1 and figure 1 below. A total of 15 nests (79%) were built on Silk-Cotton tree (Bombax cieba) three (16%) on Pipal (Ficus religiosa) and one (5%) on Karma (Adina cordifolia) trees. Only one Pipal tree contained double nests and both are abandoned. Excluding this, all other nests were located singles (table 1 and figure 1). All nests were not recorded during the beginning of the study. During the frrst visit, birds were making their nests and a total of 9 nests were (5 White-rumped, 3 Slender-billed and 1 unknown) recorded. Rest of all (19nests) was fouM in January. A total of8 nests were active with parents sitting on the nest ouLof these.,9Ut of these 19 nests, 9 belonged to White rum~,7 Slender-billed arid 3 ~()wn"rrom the beginning. The number of vacant nests) incr~ased from late January to afterward unexpectedly may be due to increased rate of l!>st/'" aba~ent like in Koshi (Giri and BaraI2001)(Fig.2). """,- Although a large area was searched, nest concentrations were found mainly to the western border line of the reserve between Pillar no.23 to 27, in the southwest border marginal line (Nepal and India) of the largest grassland, Suklaphanta. A total of 15 nests were located in this site. Only 2 nests in Jhilmila, 1 in Bahunikhola and 1 in Singhpur were record§d~eut6f these)lineteeiT'nests,only~4flr-e~4leSts,~,(2,.wh.iJe.:[.!:ll11ped and 1 Slender-billed) were able to ~ge their chicks. Other nests were deserted at various stages of nest building and ''ill9"ubation (Table-2). --- --,--~~,--~",--.~-~ 7 A total of 38 different types of carcasses were recorded in and around the study area in different seasons of the study period. Of these, 18 were Swamp Deer, 5 Spotted Deer, 9 cows and 6 buffaloes. Twenty-three carcasses were found within the reserve while 15 carcasses of domestic animals found in the human settled areas adjoining the reserve either in opened form or slightly covered with soil. Some properly dumped animals were not counted because they did not serve as food material of vultures. Most of Deer carcasses were found in open grassland while some were in the near by forest strips. Only a few carcasses were found in fresh and partially consumed state, rest all were completely eaten and only the skeletons were left. Most of Deer were killed by Tiger and consumed by vultures latter on the left amount. The highest number of Deer carcasses, as rriany as 12 out of 18, were recorded in Suklaphanta, 3 in Barkaula and rest three in different localities of the reserves (see Table -3 and F igure-3). (fotal of seven dead vultures were recorded during the study period in different nesting localities. Out of these, five were white rumped (three adult, 1 sub-adult and I juvenile) and wo adult Sl~n~lled Vultur~srgnly~aQeaaVUmrre-was found~ith'fulrDoQywlllreothe~~ -"~~~ --.--~.-~,-~ were either fully or partially consumed. Identification of fully consumed vultures was made possibleglle tG"4re~'remaw'of'wings,-Thenumb~r of dead vulture could be more if all the /Phciiifas were thoroughly surveyed which was not possible during this study due to tall (,grasses, interference of Wild Elephants and more due to security problems (TableA). The frequency of activity and movement of the vultures were high in late morning to early evening during the flestQ1Ji1ding~period:-As many as 28 adults, 5 sub-adults and 4 juveniles of White-rumped on Jan.2nd in two different flocks and 15 adults, 4 sub-adults and 3 juveniles of CSlen~~r-billed Vultures o~ Jan 4th in g.ifferentthree"fiocks were rec~rded in di~ferent '~Q,caht1es of Sukla Phanta m~902.Itwas clear, sunny a~F~m day. This was the hIghest mlmber ·ofvub:tlfe8'~FeC"-eroea,J!!:!!~Jl!~,~rl¥~u1J!.ber'orw lfiifecrasned' sharply irr " the last of May while it was moderate in March; BlE(nder-billed Vulture was recorded higher in western lowland in comparison to eastern lowland, The number of White-rumped Vulture ) have been recordedh!gherJn,llumbeLth~'Siender=bilfed Vulture in ,Suklaphal1Jl;l",_Besid6 these, Red-headed Vulture (Sqrcogyps c~ivus), Eurasian GrHlonV1ilfure'TGyps fulvus)-; EgyptIan Vulture (Neophron perchopterus), Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayansis) were also noted in the study period. No anyCinereous Vultllfe(4egypiusmonachus) was obserye~Linthen~servedllfirig the'stud:yperiod." However; the main focus was given to White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures than others. A normal head-drooping behaviour was also noted in some vultures after the commencement of March and May however it was not seemed significant with respect to number and degree. Vulture numbers on the away Narayangarh (Chitwan) to Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur) were counted. Bardhghat, HardiyachaBi;-Devdaha Murgiya, Emilia, Chandrauta, Hattisar Khola, Karri Community Forestry,y:urtbal and PanchanagarBhulaha were the areas from where vultures of different specIes were recorded. Sunbal is an area in which more than 65 vulture ipdividuals were flying in clear sunny afternoon of January :..~Tbat~was the maximum number (?f vultures recorded on .the~tl¥<:llg~out the stu~~oo.,1t"~as:nnt'PQssih1e~:Jo.-ideiitify a1h:~fthem· because of hIgh-speed of bus andlongdlsfance but maJonty were White-rumped. Besides these, two active nests of White-rumped with incubating parents (one on Sal tree, Shorea ro.busta,~and other on karma tree, Adina cordifolia) were searched in Panchanagar, N~aIPru:asi. Likewise one active nest with incubating parent of White-rumped Vultun~)in ~ and. r~.u.t a. Kapil~astu ~on Sissoo tree, Dalbergia sissoo} andfour.active~ests~ith ill ~~t,lllgpare1)fs of White-rumped Vultures (all on Sal tree) were seeB~u~ LahnatIya area of Dang district. fAll those nests were able to fledge their chicks sllecegsful1y. Thus Sunbal - Chisapani - B~tarea-~fNawalparasi district, Emilia"'::Chandrauta, areas of Kapilbastu 8 district, Lahnatiya - Murgiya Masauria, Hattisar stream, Chyaukhola ~Ures in moderate numbers.