Conserving the Critically Endangered White-rumped Vulture of Bangladesh

Conserving the Critically Endangered White-rumped Vulture of Bangladesh was a conservation project implemented by IUCN Bangladesh with support from RSPB and SAVE to protect the small and declining population of White-rumped Vultures in Bangladesh. The project focused on reducing major threats, particularly poisoning from harmful veterinary NSAIDs and poison baits, while improving the protection of important breeding and feeding areas within the Vulture Safe Zones. The project implemented GPS–GSM satellite tagging, undercover pharmacy surveys, safe food provision, nest monitoring and patrolling, community awareness, and vulture rescue and rehabilitation. Satellite tracking provided important information on habitat use, movements, transboundary routes, and potential threats, while pharmacy surveys assessed the availability of harmful and vulture-safe veterinary medicines. The project also worked closely with the Bangladesh Forest Department, Vulture Conservation Teams, and local communities to protect breeding sites, maintain safe feeding stations, promote safer veterinary medicines, and strengthen community participation. The rescue programme supported the rehabilitation and release of vultures across Bangladesh. Overall, the project strengthened species monitoring, reduced key threats, protected breeding and feeding sites, supported rescue and rehabilitation, increased community awareness, and strengthened collaboration among conservation stakeholders to improve the long-term survival of White-rumped Vultures in Bangladesh