Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 11253096

Established in 1982, Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) is dedicated to conserve birds, their habitats and biodiversity conservation  through people's participation, benefiting the people themselves. BCN provides most authentic scientific data and expertise on birds to the Government of Nepal. BCN with support from Royal Society for the protection of Birds (RSPB) is implementing in-situ vulture conservation works since 2006. Also leading international consortium "Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction" in Nepal. The major activities include, establishment of Diclofenac Free Zones (DFZs) heading to Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) awareness programs, research, advocacy and a vulture captive breeding centre.

Population of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) has declined catastrophically across South-Asia since early 1990s, with a decline of over 91% in Nepal and (Baral et al.2001) and 99.9% in India (Prakash et al. 2007). The principle cause of decline is a veterinary drug, diclofenac, widely used in treating livestock. Despite the ban on production of veterinary diclofenac in 2006, vulture populations continue to decline across Nepal, Pakistan, and India. The key remaining issue for vulture conservation in Nepal is misuse of human diclofenac products, particularly human diclofenac produced in large (>3ml) vials. Human diclofenac in large vials (>3ml) have negligible use in humans. These are legally produced but illegally used in veterinary purpose causing high risk to vultures. Such formulations are mostly introduced to Nepal from nearby Indian markets along the Nepal-India boarder because India has high (44-45%) diclofenac prevalence  (Cuthbert et al. 2010). This project with support from Mohamad Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is implementing in eight districts in the western lowlands of Nepal along the Nepal-India boarder. The project aims to immediately stop the illegal introduction of diclofenac (>3ml) vial from Indian markets by undertaking awareness programs to the general public, veterinary practitioners, customs and other government officials. Also attempting to discourage the illegal use of human diclofenac in veterinary use by limiting vial size to≤3ml and labelling these as “NOT FOR VETERINARY USE”