The Accipiter - Conservation July 2005

Conservation - September 2006

These important occasional special features will be news reports from our conservation projects both in the UK and internationally.

After a long break, we continue to concentrate on the Trust's involvement in the international efforts to address the catastrophic decline in Asian Gyps vultures. Tracey Smith gives us an update on the progress of the project.

WWF Pakistan Oriental White backed Project

As previously reported in the Accipiter the Hawk Conservancy Trust is working with WWF Pakistan in providing technical support to help in the Asian Vulture crisis. This diary tells the story so far in 2006.

March 2006	Permits have been obtained from DG Wildlife to capture young fledglings from nests. The permanent facilities are not yet completed, but two temporary enclosures are provided by Punjab Wildlife Department at Changa Manga for the birds. Due to the size of the facilities it is decided to reduce the original number of birds that were due to be captured.
April 2006	Advertising is placed for the position of centre vet and for the staffing of the centre; it is hoped that hiring will be completed by mid-May. Five chicks were captured at the Taowala colony; smaller chicks are left on the nest sites with only chicks close to fledging being taken. All chicks are weighed and come in at a healthy range of 4.5Kg - 4.75Kg. They are being fed a mixture of meat, crushed bones and liver, a total of 300g of food a day which will be increased as they grow. They are being fed in different locations each day to avoid competition for food.
May 2006	Work begins on the permanent facilities at Changa Manga. Applications have been received for all positions. It is decided that project worker Shakeel will work as Vulture Supervisor on a part time basis. Also employed is Faisal Farid, who has had experience of working on both vulture restaurants in the region and working in captive facilities.
June 2006	Dr Awais Annes is taken on as the project's visiting vet.
July 2006	The birds are vaccinated against avian pox and Newcastle disease. Dr. Arshad Toosy from UAE Environmental Agency in Abu Dabi agrees to sex birds being held with genetic testing.
August 2006	The Trust arranges for coloured identification rings to be sent to Pakistan and orders split rings to aid with the genetic testing. An application has been made to the British High Commission for a visa to allow Faisal to attend training at the Trust later in the year.


Ali Hassan Habib, Director of WWF Pakistan	Uzma Khan, Project Manager for the Oriental White Back scheme	Campbell Murn with Shakeel Ahmed, Vulture Supervisor

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