Vulture Awareness - Literal & Figurative
Channel: Peeragogy Project
Date: 2022-09-29

It has been 17 years since Manoj Gautam and his colleagues at the Jane Goodall Institute of Nepal collaborated with locals to set up Nepal’s first poison-free “Vulture Restaurant” in Basa-Basahi, Nawalparasi. 

It became clear through their testing and data collection that extensive use of the medicine Diclofenac for agricultural use required careful management of disposal of carcasses of domestic animals, usually the task of vultures. Interventions were urgent, as hundreds of vultures were dying from ingesting Diclofenac-contaminated animals. 

The way that locals from Basa village and surrounding area led the initiative and supported the cause is a shining example of sustainable, community-led conservation - but they didn’t get the credit. The initiative was co-opted and diluted by PR-hungry NGOs and domestic political interests.

Tune in to hear more from former JGINepal director and author Manoj Gautam.