By Gyanu Pangeni, Kawasoti, Feb. 1: The task of releasing vultures into natural habitat that are kept at Jatayau restaurant (release aviary) located at Pithauli of Kawasoti, which is involved in rescuing the vultures, has been postponed for some time owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, seven vultures of the world's rarest species called Dangar species are kept in Pithauli by securing them in a net wrap.

Vultures that are raised and reared in the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center in Kasara, Chitwan National Park are mixed with wild vultures at Pithauli (Release Aviary).

Observing their conditions and activities, the Dangar species are then released to the natural environment within 6 to 9 months.

However, the vulture could not be released into the wild even after one year this year round, said DB Chaudhary, coordinator of Jatayu Restaurant Management Committee.

The vultures released last year had reached Chitwan, Dang, Gorkha, Kaski and other places.

Because of the lockdown since March to June to limit COVID-19 transmission in Nepal, it was very difficult to rescue vultures, said Chaudhary. Some of the released vultures from Jatayau restaurant (release aviary) were seen to have health issues also.

Despite getting the information from conservationists that the health of vultures is not well, we were not able to reach the destination because of not letting pass during lockdown as we had to travel through vehicle.

 Chaudhary said that even though the release time of the vulture has passed, it is not yet certain when it will be released.

A vulture keeping and release programme was started at Jatayu Restaurant (Release Aviary) in Pithauli in 2018 with the objective of saving the vulture from extinction.

So far, 31 vultures have been released into their natural habitat.

GPS tracker is set on the body of vultures in order to track their health condition and location.

The released vultures travel as far as to India.

Of the 23 species of vultures found in the world, nine species are found in South Asia and eight species of vultures are found in Pithauli, said Chaudhary.

He informed that out of the 8 species of vultures found in Pithauli, 4 species are vultures, indigenous species (dangar, small brown, white and golden vulture) and those coming from outside (mountain vulture, gray vulture, long-tailed vulture).

During winter, vultures come here from the Himalayas and even from abroad. They come in November and return in March.