Awareness Workshop on Status of Vultures to Mark International Vulture Awareness Day

The Royal University of Agriculture on Sept. 7 hosted a workshop focusing on the status of vultures in Cambodia and their ecological importance, on the occasion of the International Vulture Awareness Day.

Organised by the Cambodia Vulture Working Group (CVWG) and supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) through NatureLife Cambodia, the event was presided over by H.E. Srey Sunleang, General Director of the General Directorate of Natural Protected Areas at the Ministry of Environment, and attended by 200 participants, including students majoring in agriculture, forestry, and veterinary sciences, as well as conservationists.

Representing the Ministry of Environment, H.E. Srey Sunleang urged everyone, especially university students, to unite in conserving Cambodia’s three critically endangered vulture species: the Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), and White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis). He emphasised that conservation efforts must not wav
er and encouraged the public to stop consuming wild meat, which is a major driver of wildlife hunting and poisoning.

After hearing from speakers from NatureLife Cambodia, WWF, WCS, USAID-Morodok Baitang, and SVC-tour about the current status of vultures, the threats they face, and the benefits they provide, many students expressed a change in perspective. One student shared, “Before attending this event, I didn’t like vultures because they look ugly and eat carcasses. Now, I realise their critical role in cleaning the environment and preventing the spread of diseases. We should protect them.”

Cambodia is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that are still home to a significant vulture population. At least, 132 vultures were counted across the three above-mentioned species in Cambodia in June 2023.

According to CVWG’s 2023 Annual Report, a cornerstone of the CVWG’s efforts is the “vulture restaurant” initiative, where domestic livestock carcasses are provided at designated sites to support the vulture
s. In addition to feeding initiatives, the report highlights other critical activities, such as nest monitoring, protection efforts, and combating poisoning threats.

In 2023, CVWG members located 30 vulture nests across Cambodia and Laos-border, achieving a remarkable 87 percent success rate in fledging 26 chicks. This represents the highest number of successful fledges on record.

Cambodia Vulture Working Group is led by Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fishery, and membered by key conservation NGOs including NatureLife Cambodia, ACCB, WCS, WWF, Rising Phoenix, SVC, CBC and CBGA.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse