Kathmandu : The government is set to ban Aceclofenac and Ketoprofen, both veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, to help protect vultures.

The Ministry of Forests and Environment is banning the use of these drugs in treating animal diseases because vultures suffer health problems even leading to death after consuming carcasses of dead animals treated with the drugs, it has been said. India and Bangladesh have also banned these two drugs.

The decision was taken in the meeting of the Nepal Vulture Rehabilitation Committee under the Ministry on Wednesday, said the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC).

The meeting decided to implement public awareness programs in collaboration with Nepal Bird Conservation Association and conservation partners. This aims to regulate the use of veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which pose risks to vulture protection, focusing on local governments and veterinarians.