First of all I got the nice admission to use a funny Facebook-interview with the rescued Himalayan Griffon Vulture Noël, who was released few days later, for my blog.
Noël describes in details his rescue, the usefulness and aim of vulture restaurants and the horrible, sad impact on Asias vulture population caused by the pain killer "Diclofenac". Furthermore Noël delivers insight into his individual vulture life.
Many thanks to Scott Manson for sending me a very friendly e-mail and information about Himalayan Raptor Rescue, to Jessica Love for the admission to use her interview and to Taylor Guastella for the picture of Noël just as well to Julian Andrews for the poster "Save the Vultures"!!!
If only Vultures could speak, Jessica Love chats to Noël about life, death and vulture restaurants:
Noël was a wild Himalayan Griffon Vulture recently rescued and released back into the wild.Jess: Wow. You’re so gigantic! I’ve seen birds like you in the air but never up close!
Noël: Yeah, I’m pretty magnificent.
Jess: What were you doing down in the village?
Noël: I got desperate for food. I thought I saw a carcass I could eat.
Jess: But how did you get stuck in the middle of all those people?
Noël: I landed there because I thought I could fly away again but as soon as the people saw me they all crowded around. I tried to take off but I was too weak. Kids started throwing things at me. I thought they might start throwing rocks at me soon then I would never get away. I was really stressed and exhausted.
Jess: That sounds terrifying!
Noël: It was. Finally, Scott and Taylor the bird trainer showed up and took me away in a taxi! A taxi! Can you imagine, a bird like me riding in a taxi!!??
Jess: That must have been scary too. Did you try to attack them.
Noël: No. I was too tired and I got the feeling these guys were going to help me. I’ve heard rumors about this guy Scott for years in the house thermal. I’ve seen him flying around with those Egyptian vultures. A lot of birds have disappeared for a few days then come back with unbelievable survival stories. All of them claimed Scott had rescued them. I wasn’t sure it was true until I was in the taxi myself.
Jess: Wow. Those birds are really lucky.
Noël: I’m lucky too. Most of the time when a bird disappears it’s forever. The older vultures say we’re going extinct like the dinosaurs.
Jess: Unfortunately the older vultures are right. You’re endangered and sinking in numbers rapidly but we know why and we’re trying to help.
Noël: How could you know why? Nobody knows that.
Jess: I know because the problem is man made, it’s an anti inflammatory drug given to live stock called diclofenac. If a cow has been given this drug within 2 weeks of it’s passing it will be poisonous to all vultures. When a vulture ingests diclofenac it will be dead within 24 hours from liver and kidney failure.
Noël: There could be 100 vultures feeding from 1 cow!
Jess: I know, that’s why it’s causing such a rapid decline!
Noël: That’s depressing let’s talk about something else.
Jess: OK…What do the wild birds think about Scott and the other paragliders?
Noël: At first the wild birds were pretty shocked to see all these people trying to fly. Sometimes we have to do crazy maneuvers to avoid you. You fly at different speeds and you turn in random directions in the thermal.
Jess: That’s true. I try my hardest to fly without interrupting you and I shout if I think a bird doesn’t see me. I know you’re looking for food.
Noël: Aren’t you guys looking for food?
Jess: No, we fly for fun.
Noël: Just for fun?
Jess: Yeah, it’s really amazing for us.
Noël: Hmmm. I only fly to look for food.
Jess: You don’t enjoy getting up really high on a clear day?
Noël: Um I don’t know. I guess its kind of fun.
Jess: So you guys don’t mind all the paragliders around?
Noël: No. We teach our chicks to avoid you because you can’t fly very well and you’re bigger than us so we keep out of the way.
Jess: That’s cool I guess. We can’t fly as well as you. So what happened after they took you in the taxi?
Noël: They took me here to Maya Devi. Bob, the Egyptian vulture, agreed to move into Taylor’s room and they let me stay in his room. I was so thirsty when I got here. I drank almost a liter of water. They gave me some food. I ate a lot but only the buffalo and the goat. I won’t touch the chicken no matter how hungry I am. We don’t eat chicken.
Jess: You don’t eat chicken because they’re birds?
Noël: Birds? They’re not birds. Don’t insult me. They’re just disgusting. I don’t know why you people eat them.
Jess: So are you enjoying your time here?
Noël: Yeah it’s pretty nice to have a vacation. I was having a hard time out there in the wild. I’m lucky I could rest here and get a lot to eat.
Jess: Yeah it must be a relief.
Noël: Wait, if you know about the diclofenac then why is it still a problem?
Jess: It’s so simple it should be easy but it’s very difficult to get people to stop using the drug. It’s banned for animal use in India, Pakistan, and Nepal however it’s widely available at pharmacies for people. Farmers are still using it because they don’t know why it’s been banned.
Noël: Can’t you tell them?
Jess: We’re trying. That’s Scott’s main objective with Parahawking. He uses the publicity to help raise awareness and donates money from every flight to the vulture restaurant.
Noël: People eat vultures at a restaurant? I feel sick.
Jess: NO! The vulture restaurant is a safe place for you and your friends to eat. The “restaurant” is an organization that takes cows in their final days and makes sure they have no diclofinac in their system. When the cow dies, they put it out on the land for the vultures to feed from. Hopefully more vultures will find this place as a reliable source of food and keep coming back eventually breeding in the area as well.
Noël: I’ve been there! We thought it must be a sacred place where the holy cows go to die. The older vultures say if we eat holy cows we’ll become sacred and won’t be extinct.
Me; You should listen to the older vultures and only eat at the vulture restaurant.
Noël: Holy cow, this is a lot to digest.
Jess: Ha-ha I didn’t know you had a sense of humor!
Noël: What? The holy cows are a lot to digest.
Jess: You know they’re going to release you soon?
Noël: Yeah. I think I’m ready. I want to get back to my friends and family. I can’t wait to tell them Scott rescued me, and all the other unbelievable things I’ve learned here.
CONVERSATION WITH NOEL CONTINUED...THE FOLLOWING DAY
Jess: Hey Noel
Noël: Hi.
Jess: I think you’re getting released today. What are you doing in there behind the curtain? It sounds like you’re moving around a lot are you packing?
Noël: Packing? I’m taking a bath and trying to get this piece of meat that fell into the water bowl. I just can’t quite get it. Ah! Almost had it!
Jess: I’m glad you’re taking a bath because you stink. I can smell you from here, and it’s rancid!
Noël: It’s not me.
Jess: I’m pretty sure it is because the other birds get their aviaries cleaned everyday. I’ve never smelled anything this bad coming from them.
Noël: Why didn’t I get mine cleaned?
Jess: Because you’re a huge wild bird with a sharp beak and giant talons.
Noël: Oh.
Jess: It looks like a gorgeous day to release you. I saw some other Himalayan Griffon’s out flying already. It’s crystal clear, good wind on the take off and nice thermals going up to about 2000 meters. You can see the entire Annapurna range. There has been a lot of snowmelt over the last few days. It’s absolutely amazing.
Noël: What are you talking about?
Jess: The scenery and the weather. You’re so lucky to live here.
Noël: What? Where else would I live?
Jess: Never mind, I’m just looking forward to watching you fly home.
Noël: I’m not going home right away. I have to tell all my friends about diclofenac and the vulture restaurant.
Jess: Tell as many as you can and I will tell as many people as I can.
Noël: If I don’t tell them today I may not have any friends to tell tomorrow.
LATER ON THE TAKEOFF...
Jess: Hi Noel. That taxi ride looked like it sucked for you.
Noël: Yeah it did. Scott had me wrapped in a towel on his lap and he was holding me so I couldn’t move. The ride is so bumpy and I was nervous. I threw up all over Taylor. Then Scott’s phone kept ringing and I thought we would never get here.
Jess: You had to be carried still wrapped in the towel for a few minutes up to the release point?
Noël: Yeah. He said I was heavy and he had to take a break half way up.
Jess: What did you think when they took the towel off your head and you were here?
Noël: I didn’t know exactly where we were going, I’m happy to see we’re pretty high already. I can see a few of my friends flying across the valley and I think I will go and join them. I need to rest here for a minute before I take off. I’m still feeling a little shaken up after the drive and slightly disoriented. Once I get my bearings I’ll just fly away. I can’t tell you what I will do next, it’s a mystery and it always will be.
Jess: Oh come on we’re friends now. I’d love to know more about your life.
Noël: Maybe, let me think about it.
Jess: Do you want to meet at the vulture restaurant tomorrow for lunch.
Noël: Ok. See you tomorrow!
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