Culture Vultures: Exploring the Socio-Cultural factors and approaches that have supported Vulture Conservation within Nepal

The University of the Highlands and Islands undertook a KE project with key national and international partners to explore the socio-cultural factors that have led to successful vulture population recovery in Nepal. Research (involving UHI) into the impacts and risks posed by diclofenac and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to vultures has supported vulture conservation efforts in South Asia and beyond. While previous UHI research on this topic has focussed on ongoing risks to vultures – knowledge gaps still exist regarding the wide-reaching social, economic, and cultural implications of losing vultures in Asia and beyond.

By seeking to harness the benefits of One Health transdisciplinary and collaborative research approaches, this project aimed to bridge across conservation science, tourism, creative practice, cultural heritage, and social science to learn from and ultimately distil and disseminate the good practices applied within the Vulture Conservation Programme in Nepal.

UHI One Health Challenge Fund
UHI Creative Industries Challenge Fund