Back home

Hi, Nepal was a blur of chai tea, tree climbing and daal baat. The trip was another very rewarding experience. Please find below a few pictures. Steve

Chitwan

Hi,

Just got to Chitwan after a long days driving. Things went quick with the views constantly changing from the pine forests of the higher hills through to the lower tarai. All is very good but I am a little numb from the last couple of weeks adventure. The plan is to head to Kathmandu tomorrow morning and then fly back to the UK on Friday. Picture and more details to follow!

Cheers Steve

Progress

Hi, sorry for the lack of posts but things have been nonstop. Days have merged into one and things have been challenging but very rewarding. I am currently in Butwal sitting in the restaurant of a hotel writing this post on a laptop. This feels a million miles away from this morning where we were working out in the field climbing sal trees to gain access to vultures nests. Things are going along well with the work but the plan changes on an hour by hour bases which can prove interesting. I have now stopped asking “whats the plan” and starting to enjoy the unknown of where we are going and when will we get there. This is very different from life back home and one I do miss.

So to sum up the past few days I think this list of words may give you an idea:

Vultures chicks, dust, snakes, catapults and tangled throw lines, tigers, ants, heat, daal baat, tag+salt+water, ropes+harness, rhinos,tree climbing, sore limbs, sun cream factor 50, streamed up sun glasses, yoga, interesting car journeys, hanging on ropes, buffalos, heat, large trees small vulture chicks, small trees large vulture chicks, vulture restaurants, bananas, nuts, chai tea, daal baat and more chai tea!

It has taken a little while to get into this groove but things are all good!

Any news in the UK?
Thanks Steve

traveling blur

hi, the last few days have been a blurr...a mixture of many types road travel, hiking and tree climbing.....all is good but currently getting eaten by mozies and this computer keyboard has a mind of it own...i will write more soon but things are proving tricky at the moment...hope all is ok...steve

A day in Kathmandu

Hi,

My first full day in Kathmandu and already adjusted back into it. Really enjoying being back in Kathmandu but also looking forward to heading out into the more remote areas. Not really keeping today purely traditional by listening to African music and eating Italian pizza for dinner!

Today involved sorting through the tree climbing equipment and a bit of hack sawing to save on weight. Getting itchy to start the work but another day is needed in Kathmandu before we leave.


Thanks Steve

Landing in Kathmandu

hello,

all is good and now in Kathmandu......traveling seemed to go quick and landing in Kathmandu brought memories flooding back.....the smells, sights and driving madness, how would you not love it??...in the evening headed out for some fine food (dal baat) and beer.....after a good nights rest sorting a few out and then we will be leaving Kathmandu tomorrow to head South.

cheers steve

Airport--waiting game

hi, I am in the Airport and waiting for the check in desk to open.......arriving 8 hours early can have its draw backs...but atleast I will not miss the plane!

I will update soon with any news...

Thanks Steve

Nepal 2011

Heading back to Nepal from 21th Feb -11th March 2011

I will write more as and when.

Thanks Steve

Further Problems

hi, Please find below the BBC website link to new evoling problem:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8402464.stm

Pictures

Hi, Sorry been busy adjusting back into normal life. Here are a few pictures from the whole trip. Thanks Steve

Home

Hi, Just a quick one to say I have made it home safe and sound. Over the weekend I will write more and upload pictures. Cheers Steve

Nearly the End - Parahawking to finish!!

Hi,

I am now back in Kathmandu and then I will be flying home on Thursday 23rd April. The Asian Vulture Conservation work that I was involved with has come to an end. Good News! we managed to achieve the target number of vulture chicks on the very last day of catching. Everyone is very pleased and on a number of occasion we never thought we would hit the target but everyone pulled together and our goal was eventually reached. It was not easy but this has been the most rewarding and satisfying thing I have ever been apart of. Team Vulture are now resting but very pleased how everything has gone. This is just the beginning of the work for conserving the Asian Vultures and much care and attention will be required to look after these birds for the future.

So how do you end a project like this on an even higher note?? Today I was lucky enough to be taken out Paragliding, but not just Paragliding but Parahawking. This involves the unique and breathtaking chance to fly with a Egyptian Vulture (Bob) and watch him glide through the air and then feed him from my hand. This was the best experience I have ever had and a fitting end to this unbelievable trip. Anyone interested in finding out more about Parahawking in Pohkara then contact Scott at : http://www.parahawking.com/

Thanks Again Scott!!

Even more Pictures from the last few weeks

hi,

A few more pictures from the last few weeks and last year, again these are from Richard Cuthbert Collection.

They are not in any particular order:

1) Map of Nepal
2) Machhapuchre (on the right) in the morning from Pokhara
3) Rampur - trekking into different nest sites
4) Western Sarai - a large crowd gather
5) Rampour - trekking to a nest but no chick was present
6) Westerm Sarai - day one
7,8) Rampur - views whilst trekking to nests
9) Oriental White Back Vulture (2008)
10) Trekking to a nest in Pokhara - we did get many strange looks on the trip

More Pictures - The Problem

Hi,

Here are a few more pictures from this year and last year from Richard Cuthbert collection. This is a overview to the problem.

1) The Asian Vulture Numbers have decreased by more than 97% since the 1990s and still decreasing!

2) The Problem- Diclofenac Sodium - Used as a anti-inflammatory drug for live stock and fatal if consumed by Vultures (very small % contamination to be fatal)

3) Part of the cure - Vulture Restaurant where wild vultures are feed SAFE meat twice a week.

4) Another part of the cure - Captive breeding where Asian Vultures will breed and eventually be reintroduced back into the wild in areas that are free from Diclofenac. This may be many years partly due to the fact that Vultures do not reproduce till around 5 years old and also the fact that removing this drug from use in Asian is difficult even thou there are different safe forms of anti-inflammatory drugs available.

Pictures from the last few weeks

hi,

I have just had a three course breakfast and my feet are recovering from the 68km trek to ABC. I am resting today and thought I would take the time to upload some pictures from the last few weeks. These pictures were taken by Richard Cuthbert and are not in date order (I hope you do not mind me publishing these images). I have many picture of my own that I cannot upload at the moment. Between me, Richard and Tulsi we have thousands of images and video. When I get back to the UK I will look into editing them and maybe do a slide show!

OK here we go (again click on image for full size but these have been compressed):

1) Small Oriental White Back Vulture chick high in Sal Tree in Western Tarai (6-8 Weeks old)

2) Many very interesting children

3) Day one in Rampur (secret tree) -I think KapokTree

4,5,6) Last day further West of Dhangadhi coming close to the end of the work - Saj Tree (Far West Nepal)

7,8) Last day in Rampur, you can just see me in Picture 7 - Kapok Tree

9) On the road leaving from Rampur heading south

10) Me after 3 hard great days of trekking and tree climbing in Rampur (Palpa Area) Great Photo!

11) Team Vulture L to R Anand, Me, Tulsi, Ram, Richard at the end in Dhangadhi

12) Large Oriental White Back Vulture Chick (12-14 weeks old) - Western Tarai