Overview
- Forest officials in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve buffer zone, which reported the die-off Tuesday in Semariya village, confirmed 25 presumed Himalayan Griffon vultures dead and six rescued.
- Investigators suspect secondary poisoning after stray dogs ate rice laced with a chemical and died, and vultures later fed on those dog carcasses and collapsed in nearby fields.
- A veterinary panel conducted post-mortems at the Bhira range campus and preserved viscera, while two vulture carcasses and samples from dogs and recovered rice were sent to IVRI in Bareilly for toxicology.
- Preliminary examinations indicate a poisonous substance on the dog remains, though officials say the exact chemical will only be known after the IVRI report.
- Range staff treated unconscious birds and released those that recovered, and authorities plan an awareness drive with local administration as the species is protected in India and listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.