Kapilvastu, Nov. 17: All 77 districts of Nepal have been declared diclofenac-free. The first Vulture Conservation Summit in Kathmandu in 2004 decided to ban the use of diclofenac.

To save the vultures, the government of Nepal imposed a ban on the production, import, sale, and use of diclofenac in 2006. 

Over the 17 years, all districts have been declared free of diclofenac. Dang district was declared diclofenac-free for the first time in 2010.

Since 2002, there has been a rapid surge in the death rate of vultures. Krishna Prasad Bhusal, a vulture conservation expert, stated that the vulture population in South Asia has decreased by more than 95 per cent during this period. 

The mortality rate of vultures declined after 2012 following the initiation of a conservation campaign. In 1990, it was estimated that there were 500,000 vultures in Nepal. Unfortunately, 91 per cent of the vulture population perished by 2001 owing to the use of diclofenac.

Ishana Thapa, the Chief Executive Officer of Bird Conservation Nepal, stated that the primary reason for the decline in the vulture population was ‘Diclofenac,’ commonly used for treating domestic animals.

Subsequently, the use of diclofenac for the treatment of animals was banned. The association has since been implementing projects for vulture conservation across the country.

Dr. Ramprakash Pradhan, Head of the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Services Expert Centre in Lalitpur, expressed his concern over the fact that vultures perished after consuming diclofenac-containing food. 

The government implemented the Vulture Conservation Action Plan for the first time from 2009 to 2013, and now the Conservation Action Plan for 2023-2027 has been issued. 

Vulture conservationist Bhupal Nepali mentioned that specific areas in Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province have been designated as safe habitats for vultures.

Nepal is home to nine vulture species, with six classified as domesticated. The Vulture Conservation Action Plan highlights that five of these vulture species, which are globally endangered, are found in Nepal.