Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) annual partners meeting, Cambodia
The Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) annual partners meeting, focused on prioritizing vulture conservation actions in Asia, was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from February 17th to 21st, 2025, and included a field trip. Organized by the Cambodia Vulture Working Group and NatureLife Cambodia, with guidance from the Cambodian Ministry of Forest, the event brought together conservationists and researchers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, Pakistan, Myanmar, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. These experts shared experiences and expertise, collaborating on a unified strategy for these critically endangered birds.
Dr. Chea Sam Ang, Deputy Director General of Cambodia's Forestry Administration, inaugurated the meeting on behalf of the Minister of Forest, and Bou Vorsak of NatureLife Cambodia welcomed the participants. Keynote speakers included Ms. Jemima Parry-Jones, CEO of the International Centre for Birds of Prey and Chair of the SAVE consortium; Dr. Rhys Green; and Dr. Chris Bowden, SAVE's Programme Manager.
Presentations on vulture conservation efforts and lessons learned included: from India, Dr. Karikalan Mathesh (Indian Veterinary Research Institute), Dr. Kishore Rithe (Director, Bombay Natural History Society), Dr. Sachin Ranade (Assistant Director, BNHS), Dr. Percy Avari (Assistant Professor), and Bharathidasan.S.; from Bangladesh, A. B. M. Sarowar Alam; from Nepal, Ankit Joshi and Krishna Bhusal; and from Cambodia, Oliver Gray-Rea. Mary Davies shared information on blueprint revision, Chaianan Poksawat discussed Red-Headed vulture work in Thailand, Jake Zarins addressed NSAID regulation, Jamsed Chowdry from Pakistan and Chea Sokha shared lessons from Myanmar.
Bharathidasan.S., Secretary of Arulagam and Co-chair of the SAVE consortium's Advocacy group, presented Arulagam's Vulture Safe Zone work in South India. This initiative, supported by the Foundation Segre in partnership with the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology and the Wildlife Conservation Foundation, has been underway for the past three years. In his presentation, Bharathidasan.S. acknowledged the crucial support from the Tamil Nadu State Departments of Forest, Animal Husbandry, Drug Control, and District Administration, as well as the Indian Union Government. Arulagam's development of the blueprints for Tamil Nadu state-level vulture Action action plans has become a model for other regions, and the progress in Tamil Nadu has led the SAVE team to express their intention to host the 2027 annual meeting in the state.
A field trip to the Siempang Wildlife Sanctuary allowed participants to observe vulture conservation efforts initiated by the Raising Phoenix Company. For Bharathidasan.S., this visit provided a first-time opportunity to see the Slender-billed Vulture.
