𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬

…𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔, 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒛𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.

By Kinzang Lhamo

Bhutan is home to five species of vultures: Bearded, White-rumped, Himalayan, Red-headed, and Cinereous. Their populations, however, remain fragile, with most species rarely sighted. The Himalayan Vulture is the most frequently observed, particularly during winter and spring. Due to the absence of systematic national surveys, reliable population estimates are unavailable, leaving the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) uncertain about the true status of these species.

Vultures play a crucial role in both ecosystems and public health, especially in rural areas where livestock rearing is common. “As nature’s most efficient scavengers, vultures consume carcasses quickly, preventing the spread of deadly diseases such as anthrax, rabies, and botulism,” said a DoFPS official. “By removing decaying matter before it rots, they also reduce the risk of feral dogs multiplying around carcasses and posing threats to livestock, wildlife, and humans.”
Vultures also hold cultural importance in Bhutan. “Vultures are respected in Bhutanese tradition as part of the sacred cycle of life and death,” explained a DoFPS official. “Their presence near monasteries in Bumthang and Gasa, and their association with sky burials, reflects their spiritual significance.” These practices highlight the connection between conservation, culture, and religion in the country.

Recent events underline the vulnerability of critically endangered species. In 2024, two juvenile White-rumped Vultures released from India’s Buxa Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre died, one electrocuted in Trongsa and the other from starvation in Bumthang. Both had GPS tags for monitoring, emphasizing the risks linked to infrastructure and food scarcity. “Each loss is significant when populations are already so low,” said a DoFPS official. “We must learn from these incidents and act quickly to make our landscapes safer for vultures.”

Vultures face multiple threats. Habitat loss from roads, hydropower projects, and other infrastructure disrupts nesting and roosting sites. Food scarcity is rising as improved carcass disposal practices and declining wild ungulate populations reduce available carrion. In some areas, carcasses are now burned or buried promptly, leaving scavengers with limited resources.

Poisoning continues to pose risks, as accidental ingestion of contaminated carcasses or pesticides can prove fatal. Electrocution and collisions with powerlines are significant concerns, particularly near roosting and feeding grounds. Climate change adds further uncertainty, potentially altering migration routes and foraging behavior.

Bhutan has taken steps to mitigate these threats. “DoFPS continues to monitor nesting sites and promote safe carcass disposal in collaboration with livestock extension offices,” said a DoFPS official. Community awareness campaigns in regions such as Bumthang and Gasa encourage vulture-friendly practices and discourage poisoning. Some areas are exploring “vulture restaurants” or safe carcass feeding sites to provide reliable food. Regionally, Bhutan collaborates with the Buxa Vulture Breeding Centre in India and participates in the Central Asian Flyway framework.

“Himalayan Vultures remain the most frequently observed, suggesting some stability,” noted a DoFPS official. “But other species like the Red-headed and Cinereous remain rare, and the risks of poisoning and electrocution are far from over.”

Under the Forest and Nature Conservation Act 2023, all vulture species receive the highest level of legal protection. Safer veterinary alternatives such as meloxicam are promoted, and fewer unattended cattle carcasses reduce contamination risks. “While Bhutan records fewer unattended cattle carcasses than neighboring countries, vigilance is still needed,” said a DoFPS official.

Proposed measures include expanding vulture restaurants, retrofitting powerlines in high-risk areas, and conducting systematic tagging and surveys. “Public education on the ecological and cultural importance of vultures is crucial,” added a DoFPS official.

DoFPS officials stress that long-term success requires partnerships and resources, including funding for monitoring programs, carcass stations, and veterinary drug regulation. Regional collaboration with India and Nepal, alongside international NGOs under the Convention on Migratory Species, will also be essential. “Protecting vultures is both an ecological necessity and a cultural responsibility for Bhutan,” said a DoFPS official. “Every vulture lost is not just a loss for biodiversity, but for Bhutan’s heritage and health. The time to act is now.”

The fate of the country’s vultures remains uncertain, but their role in ecosystems, public health, and culture makes their protection urgent. Continued awareness, habitat management, and community participation are essential to ensure these vital scavengers survive for future generations.