Feeding Behavior of Vultures in Dumping Site of Damauli, Tanahun District, Nepal

Abstract

Study of feeding behavior of vultures in dumping site of Damauli was conducted in Damauli, the headquarters of Tanahun District, Nepal from December 2010 to November 2011. The main objective of research was to study the feeding behavior of vultures in the dumping site of Damauli on seasonal variation and identification of threats and use ofNSAIDs in the study area. The study was conducted during December 2010 to November 2011. The study focuses on the five species of vultures that were recorded in the site during the study period; they are White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus),Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis), Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) and Egyptian vulture(Neophron percnopterus). The use ofKruskal Wallis test showed, there was asignificant difference between the total number of vulture and different species of vulture feeding in the dumping site of Damauli with Asymp. Sig=0 during different seasons. The most abundance species was Egyptian vulture which was recorded in all seasons for feeding where as Cinereous vulture and Himalayan Griffon were found only in spring. White-rumped vulture was recorded in every season but it was least in number during winter. In addition Red-headed vulture was observed in all season except summer. Diclofenac, one of the primaries NSAID that kills the vulture was not recorded in the study area during Agro-vet questionnaire survey.The main threat posed to the vulture species is the use of NSAIDs that still has to betested for the toxicity to the vultures in the site.