Hawk Conservancy Trust red kite logo
The Hawk Conservancy Trust
Charity No: 1092349 - Company No: 4304161
Sarson Lane, Weyhill, Andover, Hampshire. SP11 8DY, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1264 773850.   Fax: +44 (0) 1264 773772.   Email info@hawkconservancy.org
The Trust
Conservation
Education
Rehabilitation
Research

Asian Vulture Crisis

Background

For a description of the Gyps Vulture Restoration Project, please click here
For details of the our project partner WWF-Pakistan, click here
More links to other organisations can be found at the bottom of this page.
Vultures by their thousands

Oriental White Backed Vultures were once seen in their hundred of thousands on every street corner across the Asian subcontinent. Sadly due to their recent decline this is now a sight that may never be seen again.
Despite intensive work to find the cause of the declines, it was not until 2003 that the main reason – veterinary drug called Diclofenac – was discovered. Vultures feeding on carcasses of domestic livestock treated with the drug will die rapidly.
Pakistan showing Changa Manga
In 2004, the Trust formed a working partnership with WWF in Pakistan, and helped set up a conservation breeding facility in Changa Manga, about 50 miles southwest of Lahore. The Trust is providing technical support and training facilities, and through fundraising efforts will contribute towards the running costs of the facility into the future.
Campbell on site in Pakistan
Chief Scientific Officer Campbell Murn visited Pakistan to help design and develop the breeding centre. He visited again to work on the newly completed facility and also to work with WWF-Pakistan on future plans for the project.
The new breeding centre
The conservation breeding centre is the first of it’s kind in Pakistan, and was completed in March 2007
Oriental White-backed Vulture
The breeding colony at Changa Manga, in combination with other breeding centres in south Asia, is one of the last remaining chances for this critically endangered species. The Hawk Conservancy Trust will devote all of its expertise in trying to save this vital species from extinction.

Supporters

Support for the Gyps Vulture Restoration Project was received from the following funding partners in 2007/2008/2009:

  • L. & H. Arends
  • Beale Park
  • T. & J. Cobbold
  • Colchester Zoo
  • Cotswold Falconry Centre
  • Friends of Banham Zoo
  • Friends of Paradise Wildlife Park
  • Gauntlet Birds of Prey Centre
  • Grand Parc Puy du Fou
  • The Hawking Centre at Leeds Castle
  • I.A.A.T.E.
  • Isle of Wight Owl & Falconry Centre
  • Longleat Safari Park
  • Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida.
  • J. Murrell
  • Paradise Park, Hayle, Cornwall
  • The Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, USA
  • I. Sinclair

For more information about the South Asia Vulture Recovery Programme, try these links to some of the many organisations working on this international conservation effort:
Vulture Rescue, Bombay Natural History Society, WAZA, The Peregrine Fund