Hawk Conservancy Trust Asian Vulture Conservation Programme

Pakistan trip report by Campbell Murn

SUMMARY

The trip (1/4/05 - 16/4/05) was successful and productive. It resulted in the strengthening of the working relationship between WWF-Pakistan and the Hawk Conservancy Trust. The main achievements were:

- meeting key personnel (WWF, Pakistan Government)
- site selection for the captive management facility
- facility design
- development of staff terms of reference
- agreement on future activities

There are several desired outcomes over the next 8-10 months related to training, support and facility supervision. It is planned/recommended that the next visit by HCT personnel will take place in January and/or February 2006.

Introduction.

In response to the significant declines of south Asian vultures, WWF-Pakistan has initiated their 'Gyps Vultures Restoration Project'. Similar conservation efforts for south Asian vultures are taking place in India and Nepal, through the efforts of other organizations such as RSPB, Zoological Society London, Bombay Natural History Society, the National Birds of Prey Trust and Bird Conservation Nepal. The main organizations involved in Pakistan and with WWF-Pakistan and the restoration project are the Hawk Conservancy Trust (HCT), Environment and Wildlife Research Development Agency (EWRDA) in the UAE and The Peregrine Fund (TPF) in the USA.

The project coordinator is WWF-Pakistan's conservation biologist, Ms Uzma Khan. During the planning stage of the project, Uzma Khan made contact with several organizations that are experienced with either birds of prey or vultures in particular. The aim was to gain information and expertise regarding the management of a proposed captive flock in Pakistan. This captive flock is part of an overall strategy aimed at reducing the possibility of vultures (specifically the Asian White-backed Vultures Gyps bengalensis) going extinct in Pakistan.

Following the first approach by WWF-Pakistan, the HCT provided initial advice and suggestions. This was followed by regular contacts between the two organizations and the offer of assistance to the project wherever possible or feasible. As a result, Uzma Khan visited the HCT during May 2004 and a partnership was formed between the two organizations, which was formalized in July.

Initial funding and project coordination will come from WWF-Pakistan. Technical advice, staff training and fieldwork will come from HCT. Fieldwork is also expected from TPF. The vast majority of project funding will come from EWRDA.

This report is a summary of the first trip made to Pakistan by HCT personnel.

Trip summary

April 1st - 2nd:

Travelling and arrival.

Sunday 3rd April.

Visit to Changa Manga Forest - proposed site for vulture facility.

Changa Manga Forest is a state run forestry area of approximately 12,000 acres, and is one of the largest (if not the largest) man-made irrigated forestry plantations in the world. It is managed by the Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department, and is approximately 2 hours drive southwest of Lahore (see map). The landscape is flat (like most of the Punjab Province), and irrigation canals and water channels are the prominent landscape features. There are limited open areas, as the vast majority of the forest is in various stages of regrowth ranging from newly planted stands to areas of mature hardwood trees. The main tree species are Shisham, Cymbal, Acacia and Eucalypt.

Apart from the forestry operation, there is a visitor area consisting of parks, gardens and playing fields. Changa Manga is a popular tourist attraction, and many families and groups visit for picnics, etc.

Changa Manga previously contained a significant colony of white-backed vultures - approximately 750+ breeding pairs. The last recorded breeding in the colony was in the 2002/2003 season, when approximately 20 pairs were found. There have been no vultures breeding in Changa Manga since, and no vultures were observed during this trip. There were a few remnant nests in trees.

Several sites were assessed as potential locations for the captive management facility. There were a number of factors that limited the choice of location. Proximity to a power supply and road access were key considerations. The level of supervision from forest staff was also important, as some of the remote parts of Changa Manga have been known to harbour poachers and/or criminals.

A site was selected that was near to a small settlement of forest staff, but far enough away as to avoid undue disturbance. Being relatively close to a settlement offers some security, but more importantly reduces the costs of extending powerlines to the facility.

The site is adjacent to a small water channel (as opposed to a larger canal), away from a small vehicular track. Distance from the main administrative center for Changa Manga forest is approximately 5km. There is currently little or no regrowth on the site, apart from young Eucalypts. The total area recommended for the facility is approximately 5 acres.

Monday April 4^th

Meeting with Ali Hassan Habib. Director General WWF-Pakistan.

The project overall and the role of the HCT was discussed. The DG has largely delegated control of the project to Uzma Khan.

Meeting with Capt. (Rtd.) Iftikhar Ahmed Roa. Director General Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department.

This was the first meeting designed to begin the formal application to grant land for the project. Points of discussion were: the plight of vultures in south Asia, the need for the facility in Changa Manga, staffing concerns and facility management issues.

Meeting with Iqrar Hussain. WWF-Pakistan architect.

This was the preliminary discussion of the site at Changa Manga, and the facility overall. Sketches and drawings were made of the facility design, based on the concept devised by CM during the visit to Changa Manga. Sketches were to be incorporated into an architectural graphic design programme.

Tuesday April 5^th

Meeting with Uzma Khan.

This was the first of series of working sessions that were designed to develop the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for staff and employees associated with the captive management facility.

There were also discussions relating to the next trip (see below 'Future Activities), aims and objectives for the programme, staff requirements and time frames.

Meeting with Iqrar Hussain and Uzma Khan.

This meeting involved discussing (and changing) the first draft design that had been created by Iqrar. Significant alterations were required!

Wednesday April 6^th

Drive to Multan (approximately 6hrs from Lahore).

Late in the day, we met with Muhammad Asim, who is the project manager for the Peregrine Fund's Asian Vulture Project. Asim is based in Multan, at the TPF office. He is involved with several activities for the project, including supervision of a vulture restaurant, assessment and monitoring of Toawala breeding colony, and the continued monitoring of recovered dead vultures. He is also responsible for the maintenance of 5 captive white-backed vultures, held at the University of Multan, in aviaries built by TPF. These birds will be transferred to the facility at Changa Manga once it is completed. These same birds will be used to demonstrate health, husbandry and management methods during future training sessions for facility personnel. 

Overnight accommodation provided by TPF office.

Thursday April 7^th

We drove from Multan to TPFs vulture feeding station/ vulture restaurant in the Khanewal District, east of Multan. This restaurant if the main support for Toawala colony (30.40.26N 70.55.11E), which is probably the largest remaining colony of Asian white-backed vultures in the world.

At the site there is an observation hut, approximately 50-75m from the feeding station. There were the remains of a carcass, and approximately 15 vultures at the site upon arrival. The facility aims to be as self sufficient as possible, and contains a small herd of donkeys held in a kraal adjacent to a field that grows fodder for the stock. The land (approximately 3-4 acres) is rented from the local farmer (who owns approximately 15 acres). Local gypsies are used to slaughter the donkeys, as apparently other locals will not perform the task. The gypsies are 'paid' with the hide from the stock. They also retrieve and sell the bones that are left by the vultures. Overall, the facility is not entirely self sufficient, and it requires a cash input from TPF to continue operating.

The number of vultures gradually increased during the morning to approximately 120-150 birds - mainly white-backed, but also four Eurasian Griffon. The increased number was also due to one of the donkeys being slaughtered and put out. At least one (of four) of the vultures that has been satellite tagged by TPF was observed.

The vulture restaurant

We left the vulture restaurant to view Toawala colony. The vultures breed in Shisham trees along the canal. Shisham is a hardwood currently threatened and in decline in Pakistan. It is being harvested unsustainably, in addition to suffering a form of dieback in many areas. The cause of this is unknown. Additionally, the canal Shisham trees used by the vultures are under continual threat as a resource. Locals value the hardwood (mainly for fuel), and most trees have had sections of bark cut away. Individually each section is not significant - over time, however, the tree is effectively ring-barked and dies. Many sections of the canal banks are bare of trees, where once there would have been mature Shisham. This represents a significant threat to white-backed vultures, as the occurrence of other suitable nest trees in the Punjab is limited. TPF has located all the nest trees in Toawala colony - there is great potential for a research project here: using data collected from existing nest trees to located and protect currently unused nest tree areas.

Typical canal country, with the (larger) Shisham trees used by vultures

During the visit to Toawala, we found one dead white-backed vulture in the canal. A quick autopsy revealed the presence of gout - indicating that the bird had been exposed to Diclofenac. Unfortunately, there are currently no initiatives in Pakistan to reduce and/or remove Diclofenac from the environment.

Shakeel Ahmed (WWF-Pakistan) & CM perform field autopsy on dead white-backed vulture

Apart from the development of the captive management facility and WWF-P's restoration project, the main conservation initiatives are the restaurant run by TPF to support Toawala colony, and a proposal to gazette Toawala colony as a Vulture Sanctuary. As usual, the proclamation and management of a nature reserve or sanctuary over an area containing a resident population that has historically used natural resources within that area is difficult. Continued harvesting of resources by the locals usually continues, and here is often much (abortive) effort spent on policing.

Overnight accommodation provided by TPF office.

Friday April 8^th

We traveled from Multan to Harrik Development Centre to meet staff from there.

The purpose of this trip was to travel to the Thal desert in northern Muzaffar Garh district  (approximately 50 miles NW of Multan) to look for a Black Stork and/or its PTT/satellite transmitter. This bird had been tagged by Czech researchers, and had shown no movement for several days. It was suspected that the bird might have died, or shed the transmitter. Given the expense involved with satellite tags, the effort to recover the transmitter (and possibly discover the fate of the stork) was necessary.

Despite visits to local communities to ask for information, and a thorough search in the area surrounding the last know position of the satellite tag, nothing was found.

Drive back to Lahore

Monday/Tuesday April 11/12^th

Meeting with Uzma Khan

This meeting saw the completion of job descriptions and ToRs for facility personnel. There was also discussion of facility operation and future activities for the project. See below under 'Future Activities' for more detail.

During a final meeting with Iqrar Hussain, the facility design as shown below was completed. There was also a discussion of suitable and unsuitable building materials.

It is planned that the facility will support and maintain a suitably large flock of livestock for vulture food supply. Wednesday April 13^th

Meeting to discuss land allocation and project terms of reference with:

Maj. (Rtd.) Iqbal Ahmed - Punjab State Secretary for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries.

Capt. (Rtd.) Iftikhar Ahmed Roa - Director General, Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department

Ali Hassan Habib - Director General, WWF-Pakistan

Uzma Khan - WWF-Pakistan

Muhammed Mehboo-ur-Rehman - Chief Conservator of Forests (Punjab).

This was a lengthy meeting, and was aimed at gaining official approval for the allocation of the land identified during the visit to Changa Manga.

Many aspects of the vulture crisis and conservation in Pakistan overall were discussed. At the conclusion of the meeting a procedure was established whereby land for the facility could be allocated through liaison with the office of the Director General of Forests and Wildlife in the Punjab.

Thursday April 14^th

Visit to Lahore Zoo.

The zoo has nice gardens and enclosures that are undergoing a gradual process of refurbishment. Similar to London Zoo, many of the buildings are heritage listed, which inhibits development of new enclosures. Approximately 1.5 million people visit the zoo each year, and apparently it is quite a wealthy zoo. Uzma used to work at the zoo, so her background knowledge was very helpful during the tour around the zoo. She also wrote virtually all of the interpretative material and information exhibits.

There are many avian species (lots of peacocks!), but not many raptors - two Egyptian Vultures, two Black Kites, a Tawny and Steppe Eagle.

Meeting with Brig. (Rtd.) Mukhtar Ahmed. Vice-president Emeritus, WWF-Pakistan.

Departed Thursday night / Friday morning

Future activities.

During the trip it was discussed and agreed with WWF-Pakistan that the project veterinarian should spend some time at the HCT prior to the facility in Pakistan becoming operational.
WWF-Pakistan is currently (mid-May) advertising, and aim to recruit a project veterinarian in the very near future.

The trip by the project vet to the HCT for training is a crucial part of the project in Pakistan. This is due to the specialised nature of vulture/bird of prey husbandry, plus the fact that training in avian medicine is uncommon in Pakistan. A period of the time spent in the UK by the project vet must be with HCT vet John Chitty. It is recommended that all costs related to this training visit be borne by the HCT - flights, accommodation, and moderate living expenses.

The next trip to Pakistan for HCT staff is currently planned for late January and/or February, and should last for approximately 3 weeks. During this time, at least one week will be allocated for training of facility personnel in the areas of husbandry, welfare, management and other aspects related to running the facility. This is a critical part of the project, and an important commitment by the HCT. There will by five (5) Pakistani staff requiring training: Programme manager, two primary vulture supervisors, stock supervisor and project veterinary officer. It is strongly recommended, and agreed by WWF-P, that HCT's veterinary surgeon, John Chitty, be available for most (preferably all) of this time.

The second and third weeks are currently allocated to capture and transportation of wild birds to the facility.

During the capture, transport and settlement phases, it is essential that trained and experienced personnel are on hand to care for the vultures and demonstrate appropriate techniques. Similarly, it will be at this point that samples for health screening and sex testing are obtained, thus requiring experienced personnel.

For these blood samples it will be necessary to arrange various things. All this must be done in conjunction with WWF-P, and includes:

- export/import documentation
- sex testing
- health screening
- long-term storage for the remaining samples (possible genetic analysis in future)

In the interim, costs for these analyses need to be determined, budgeted and advised to WWF-P. It is recommended that HCT pay for transport, analysis and storage costs, and that these activities be coordinated with John Chitty.

When the vultures are to be housed in the facility, the need for individual identification will be paramount - especially for assessing potential breeding pairs, juveniles or unsocial birds. Many high visibility leg rings are available for this purpose, but I would recommend obtaining leg bands from the Vulture Study Group in South Africa. These are the same leg bands used to ring African White-backed Vultures and other vulture species in southern Africa. The VSG can be contacted either directly, or via Mark Anderson (working committee member).