By Abinash Chaudhary, Dhangadi, Feb. 8: Mountain vultures, which are found in the area stretching from the mid-hills to the far-flung mountains, have recently reappeared in the community forests in Kailali district. Locals believe they have reappeared there after a gap of about two decades.

At least 24 Himalayan vultures have been spotted in the Radhakrishna Community Forest in Rajwara, in Bhajani Municipality-2, and they have been living there for a month, locals say.

According to ornithologist Hirulal Dangaura, the vulture descends into the Terai every year during the winter season. "They come here every year in search of food," he said.

According to Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), more than 10,000 mountain vultures are in Nepal. Of these, mostly adult vultures come to the Terai during the winter, and they go back to their habitat once warm season begins, in March and April, said Dangaura.

The vultures are also seen in Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Achham districts of Sudur Paschim Province. However, their numbers in those districts have not been ascertained.

“The vultures used to habitat the area, but they left the place long ago. Now that they have come back, we are happy to see them again," said Khum Bahadur Khadka, a conservationist based in Bhajani.

Bhajani Municipality has set up a cow protection centre in Ward No. 2, where the vultures have been feeding on their carcasses.

Four years ago, upon sighting the vultures in the community forest of Bijulia, in Bhajani Municipality-4, local conservationists and forest users got ecstatic.

Vulture is taken to be a saviour of nature. They eat carcasses and help keep environment clean in the process.