A Socioecological Assessment of Vulture Abundance and Community Perceptions Before and After Landfill Site Shift in...

South Asia is home to nine species of vultures, and Nepal hosts all of them. Remarkably, all these species have also been recorded in Pokhara. This could be attributed to Pokhara's location along bird migration pathways and the year-round availability of food sources for most of the vulture species, including the landfill. This landfill site has been translocated due to the construction of Pokhara regional international airport. In this context, we aimed to estimate the seasonal abundance of vultures as well as understand the discrepancy in people's perception on vulture conservation before and after the landfill site is shifted to another location. Data were collected using key informant interviews, household surveys, and direct field observations. The collected data were analyzed employing chi-squared and Wilcoxon-signed rank tests. The relative abundance of the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) was found to be the highest among observed species. We found an association between people's perception toward vultures and their socioeconomic factors (age, education, and income source). Older people, individuals with higher levels of formal education, and people involved in farming showed greater appreciation for vultures. Our study revealed that the perceived threat of electrocution increased slightly after the landfill site was relocated. Despite the relocation, the old landfill area continues to provide a suitable habitat for vultures, likely due to consistent food availability and the proximity of nesting habitats near forests, cliffs, and rivers. The risk of collisions with airplanes is likely to increase in the future highlighting the need for proactive management and prioritization.