Vultures, Cows and People
Vultures, Cows and People-Strengthening an Ancient Relationship
Location
Kanchanpur district, the project will focus on Dodhara Chandani municipality, Bhimdatta municipality, Bedkot municipality, Beldandi rural municipality, Sukhlaphanta municipality, Laljhandi rural municipality, Krishnapur municipality, Nepal
Project Dates
1st October 2025 – 30 September 2028
Technology
Telemetry tagging in Vulture, Solar-powered chilling vat, Bag digester in cow shelters, Electric vehicle transportation system
Project Reach
1439 households (6,300 people)
Project Partners
Project lead: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Sub-partner: Renewable World and Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN)
Local partner: Preservation of Environment and Social Welfare Association of Nepal (PESWAN)
Project Funders
Darwin Initiatives
Target SDGs
1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15
Overview
VCP is a three-year project led by RSPB. Renewable World is a sub-partner leading on livelihoods and BCN is leading on vulture conservation. The project pilots an integrated approach linking vulture conservation with improved livelihoods for dairy farmers and sustainable management of cow shelters in the buffer zone of Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchanpur district, reaching 1,439 households.
The goal of the project is: Recovery of vultures, enhanced household livelihoods and reduced impacts of feral cattle in and around Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal.
There are 4 outputs:
Output 1 is ‘Criteria for Shuklaphanta National Park Vulture Safe Zone declaration achieved following monitoring movements, survival, and causes of mortality of vulture populations in and around Shuklaphanta, with threats identified and minimised’.
Output 2 is ‘Livelihoods of livestock owners, especially dairy farmers, enhanced through improved husbandry and security, improved post-production practices, adoption of regenerative farming approaches, and increased access to the markets via cooperatives’.
Output 3 is ‘Cow shelters around Shuklaphanta National Park with enhanced vulture friendly practices and improved financial sustainability and viability, alleviating issues caused by unwanted cattle’.
Output 4 is ‘Engagement and advocacy with Government of Nepal to support the establishment of Nepal’s second Vulture Safe Zone around Shuklaphanta National Park and associated actions relating to vulture conservation’.
Results Framework
Outcome 1: Criteria for Sukhlaphanta National Park Vulture Safe Zone declaration achieved following monitoring movements, survival, and causes of mortality of vulture populations in and around Sukhlaphanta, with threats identified and minimized.
Outcome 2: Livelihoods of livestock owners, especially dairy farmers enhanced through improved husbandry and security, improved post-production, adaptation of regenerative farming approaches, and increased access to the market via cooperatives
Outcome 3: Cow shelters around Shuklaphanta National Park with enhanced vulture friendly practices and improved financial sustainability and viability, alleviating issues caused by unwanted cattle.
Outcome 4: Engagement and advocacy with Government of Nepal to support the establishment of Nepal’s second Vulture Safe Zone around Shuklaphanta National Park and associated actions relating to vulture conservation.
