Alain Schroeder
Vulture Restaurant
Vulture feeding centre, Nepal, 2023
Category - Changemakers
Team members Kewal Prasad Chaudhary (left) and Yam Bahadur Mahato (right) weigh an injured Himalayan griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis). The raptor was taken into care near the feeding centre. Once it regains strength, it will be moved to the soft-release aviary on the feeding field with other birds, with the goal of integrating it back into the wild as quickly as possible. Jatayu Restaurant was the first community-run safe feeding zone for vultures in the world. By devouring carcasses, the birds neutralise pathogens and prevent diseases from spreading. First, deceased livestock, donated by local farmers, is checked for vulture-toxic substances, their remains are then recycled back to the community as feed and fertiliser. Following this successful breeding programme, which encourages mating among captive and wild vultures, the population is rebounding. The project, replicated in Nepal and elsewhere, is a boon to the local economy, promoting conservation and ecotourism. However, vultures still face numerous threats, including, accidental poisoning, electrocution, deforestation, and food scarcity.
HONOURABLE MENTION
16 mm f/4 Lens - 1/320 sec at f/9 ISO 800