Conservation of Vultures in Asia with Chris Bowden, MBE, RSPB

_{This YouTube video was produced by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.}

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Conservation of Vultures in Asia with Chris Bowden, MBE, RSPB https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/news/asian-vulture-conservation

Description: We are pleased to feature Chris Bowden, a leading conservation biologist specializing in globally threatened bird species, particularly vultures across Asia. As the Globally Threatened Species Officer at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Chris focuses on developing and implementing conservation strategies for some of the world’s most endangered avian species.

Bowden serves as Programme Manager for Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE), a groundbreaking international initiative addressing the catastrophic decline of vulture populations across the Indian subcontinent. Under his leadership, SAVE has coordinated efforts between governments, conservation organizations, and local communities to tackle the veterinary drug crisis that has decimated vulture numbers by over 95% since the 1990s.
His work encompasses field research, policy advocacy, and collaborative partnerships spanning multiple countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Bowden has been instrumental in promoting the ban of diclofenac and other harmful veterinary drugs, establishing vulture safe zones, and developing captive breeding programs for critically endangered species such as the White-rumped, Indian, and Slender-billed Vultures.

With extensive field experience and a deep understanding of the ecological and cultural importance of vultures in Asian ecosystems, Bowden continues to champion innovative conservation approaches that balance scientific rigor with practical, community-based solutions. His efforts have been crucial in preventing the extinction of several vulture species and establishing frameworks for their long-term recovery.