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Catching teams increase vulture numbers at Nepal's vulture conservation breeding centre
A joint team from Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) successfully captured 30 white-backed vultures chicks in Nepal, to swell the numbers of birds within the country's breeding centre. In 2008, when the centre was established, 14 chicks were captured and have been safely held and reared in captivity for the past year. In 2009 the expanding size of the centre and construction of a colony aviary meant that increased numbers of birds were required in order to fulfil the centre's objective of holding at least 50 birds of Nepal's threatened vulture species. Over a month long period in March and April, 30 chicks were captured from across the lowland districts of Nepal. All chicks were safely transported to a temporary aviary at the NTNC headquarters at Sauraha, bordering the Chitwan National Park. Following completion of the new colony aviary the chicks will be transferred to the breeding centre at Kasara, within the National Park. Permission to capture vulture nestlings and support for the capture efforts was provided by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). Expert guidance on tree-climbing was provided by UK based tree-surgeon Steve Lucocq, who volunteered his time for the project -- many thanks to Steve for his commitment and energy to capture the chicks.
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