A month after the mysterious death of 25 Himalayan vultures in the Bhira forest range of Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, an investigation by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) has revealed that the birds died after consuming a toxic substance, raising serious concerns among wildlife and forest authorities.
The incident came to light on April 7 when a farmer from Semariya village alerted forest officials after spotting carcasses of stray dogs in his field, surrounded by vultures. Upon reaching the spot, officials discovered around 25 dead vultures, while five others were found unconscious.
Veterinary Officer Hemant Kumar Singh from Bijua immediately began treatment for the surviving birds. Meanwhile, to determine the cause of death, samples including viscera from the vultures and a dog, along with a suspicious rice sample found at the site, were sent to the IVRI laboratory in Izatnagar for analysis.
Post-mortem examinations and lab tests confirmed the presence of toxic elements in all the samples, including the rice. Scientists believe that poisoned food was likely fed to a stray dog, whose carcass was later consumed by the vultures, leading to a chain of fatalities.
The IVRI has submitted its report to the concerned Divisional Forest Officer, and further investigation is expected into the source of the poison and possible intent behind the incident.
Experts have termed the deaths alarming, noting that the Himalayan vulture is already classified as an endangered species. The loss of 25 vultures in a single incident is being seen as a serious setback to conservation efforts and a warning about the continued threat of poisoning in wildlife habitats.
Forest officials and conservation agencies are now expected to step up monitoring and preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
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