As apex-aerial predators, raptors are an effective indicator of ecosystem health providing vital ecosystem services such as rapid carcass disposal and biological control of rodent and avian pests. In Nepal, raptors also have aesthetic, religious and cultural value e.g. sky burials practice in the northern region and vultures as the form of Jatayu, the heroic characters in Ramayana. Out of 321 species of daytime active raptors in the world, Nepal is home to 60 species including vultures, eagles, hawks and falcons. A recent status assessment has shown 18% of raptor species in the world are on the verge of extinction and additional 52% species are declining. The number of raptors frequenting Nepal is declining, with 47% (n = 28) species as nationally threatened and additionally 7% (n = 4) near-threatened. Because of globally an important landmark of raptors, out of 10 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) that hold the highest number of threatened raptor species in the world, six occur in Nepal.

However, in recent years, anthropogenic activities including agriculture, deforestation, hunting/trapping, poisoning, electrocution/collision with powerlines have emerged as the most prominent threats to raptors. A study on species' abundance and the threat is critical and highly recommended for 42% of the world’s raptors, primarily in the Old World.

In the past, Himalayan Nature has collaborated with Nepalese Ornithological Union to implement bird-related projects in various parts of Nepal and we intend to work with several provincial bird /wildlife conservation organisations on this matter.

In past, we worked on:

a. Community Managed Vulture Conservation Project in Ramdhuni Community Forest, eastern Nepal.

b. Raptor Migration count

c. Movement Study of Indian Spotted Eagle using GPS satellite transmitter.

d. Ecology of Mountain Hawk Eagle.

e. Tracking the movement of Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis in Nepal.

f. Mapping abundance of threats to raptors in western Nepal.

g. Identification and mitigation of the main threats impacting threatened Bearded Vultures in their core ranges of Nepal.

h.  Conserving the Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastata) in Lowlands of Nepal.

Should you wish to work with us, volunteer or support by giving donations please write to tulsi.biologist@gmail.com