Despite all the mayhem that dominates the news about Pakistan these days, Eco-friendly activities and projects are underway in different parts of the country.

The opening of Pakistan’s first ever Vulture Restaurant is a case of this kind. Established by the Dhartee Development Society (DDS), in collaboration with the UNDP-GEF (Small Grants Program) Pakistan, the Vulture Restaurant aims at the conservation off vultures in the Sindh province.

The Vulture Restaurant has been opened in Nagarparker (Tharparker district of Sindh) where most of the birds of the endangered Gyps Vulture are found. These vultures have declined rapidly in Pakistan, and the South Asia, mainly due to consuming the meat of dead animals which were treated with Diclofenac drugs. The remains of these drugs in the animals’ meat cause kidney failure in the vultures that feed on the dead animals. In the Vulture Restaurant, animal meat will be first tested for Diclofenac by the DDS and then fed to the vultures.

Two vulture conservation centers are already working in India and the use of Diclofenac drugs for animals has been banned in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Still, the drug is used in parts of Pakistan for treating animals. A survey conducted in 2008 found that only 42 Gyps Vultures are left in the province. With the provision of safe food at the Vulture Restaurant, the conservation of this endangered bird in Pakistan will be made possible.