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Assam: 25 vultures found dead in Sivasagar’s Panbecha area, 8 reported critical

Assam: 25 vultures found dead in Sivasagar’s Panbecha area, 8 reported critical

Around 25 endangered vultures have been reportedly found dead on January 23 in Sivasagar’s Panbecha Loraputa Borgila Beel under mysterious circumstances.

The carcasses of the vultures were spotted by locals at a field in the Borgila Beel under Gorkush area following which they informed the forest authorities.

As per reports, eight other vultures are in critical condition and undergoing treatment at the beat office of the forest department in Sargua.

During the time of publishing the report, the total number of vulture deaths were reportedly 25. As per latest reports, the number of vulture deaths have shot up to 34. Among the dead vultures were 21 White Rumped Vulture, 5 Slender Billed Vulture and 8 Himalayan Griffon vultures. 

Doctors treating the sick vultures suspect the birds might have fallen ill after consuming cattle carcasses found strewn around few meters away from the spot where the vultures were found.

The treatment of the eight other vultures is underway in collaboration with NGO Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and forest department.

A team of doctors led by Dr Prince Boro and ACF Bubul Baruah is conducting the treatment of the eight vultures.

It needs mention here, medicines basically organophosphate, carbamate and diclofenac are being suspected to be used in the field where the vultures were found dead. 

Notably, Diclofenac is banned in India which is brought from Bangladesh illegally. 

Three drugs - Aeclofenac, Ketoprofen and Nimesulide were introduced as alternatives to Diclofenac that was banned in India in 2006 for animal use because it caused widespread vulture deaths.

Birds die two-three days after ingesting the drug.

Also read : Assam: Wild elephant continues to pose threat to Chirang villagers