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4 February 2012

Vulture found in Son La

According to news on local online newspaper, a "strange bird" was found the 20th January in Lọng Đán village (along Đà river reservoir) Chiềng Bằng commune, Quỳnh Nhai district, Sơn La province. Mr. Trai of Birdlife said this could be a White-rumped Vulture (juvenile) - currently classified as Critically Endangered.

It is said that the bird was found famished, but is now being fed with meat and vegetable, and villagers enjoy watching it.

Ha Hoang
BirdLife Vietnam
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8 comments:

  1. Anonymous4 February 2012 at 21:35

    Hi Ha,

    Thanks for the information,
    There are actually many online news about this "strange bird", this "giant bird"... (in Dantri, Hanoimoi, Ngoisao...).

    Many pictures here : http://xahoi.com.vn/xa-hoi/van-hoa-xa-hoi/xuat-hien-chim-la-troc-dau-ben-ho-song-da-77791.html

    Birdlife intend to do something or not ?Otherwise, I'm not sure that the villagers will release it one day...
    I think the biggest risk for this bird is to be sold to a "đại gia thích chơi chim" ! (rich bird "lover").

    Sebastien

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  2. Ha Hoang5 February 2012 at 10:55

    Sebastien,
    I have left a message on ENV's hotline and will contact them again on Monday. BirdLife's suggestion for this case is for the family to release the bird to nature. ENV is funded by a BL program called CEPF, and they have established networks and procedures to deal with this. Normally they should be able to contact the family, convince them, and reimburse the costs incurred to the family. Will keep you posted.

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  3. Anonymous6 February 2012 at 10:55

    Hi Ha and Sebastian,

    This a Himalayan Griffon, the first record for Vietnam. During the non-breeding season this species wanders widely from breeding grounds in China and the Himalaya, occasionally visiting vulture restaurants in Cambodia where I work. They even get as far as Malaysia sometimes!

    It needs to be fed meat, not vegetables, and if it is fed properly there is no reason why it can't be released once it has its strength back. There is probably nothing wrong with it other than hunger - there are no carcasses of dead animals for it to feed on in northern Vietnam.

    Cheers,

    Simon

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  4. Ha Hoang6 February 2012 at 17:45

    Hi all,
    ENV said that the bird is now kept by Son La province's Forest Protection Department, and seems to be quite weak.
    Cheers
    Ha

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  5. Vietnam Bird News8 February 2012 at 13:18

    Good chance it will be dead in a day or two.

    Jonathan C Eames

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  6. Anonymous9 February 2012 at 13:57

    Agree, apparently the bird has been kept at Quynh Nhai FPD. Still being fed with vegetables (and meat).

    After having contacted the FPD station it sounds like they want to keep it. Apparently a cage is being built (something like 1.5m x 1.5m x 1.5m) to "house" it.
    It had liquid discharge coming out of its nostrils a few days ago but a local "vet" (stands for veteran, I guess) "treated" it.
    The bird was said to be still hungry.
    This could be so easy...

    Falk

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  7. Ha Hoang13 February 2012 at 17:40

    Hi there,
    The bird is not dead yet. ENV said today that it will be transferred to Soc Son center tomorrow.
    Cheers
    Ha

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  8. Anonymous15 February 2012 at 21:17

    Hi all,

    True, the bird has been transferred to Soc Son yesterday. It is now kept in an aviary and appears to be OK (eats, drinks, cleans itself) but is still comparatively weak.
    Let's hope it gets fed properly over the next few days...

    Cheers,
    Falk

    ReplyDelete

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