Dog poisoning led to death of 25 Himalayan griffon vultures in UP

PILIBHIT: The autopsy report of 25 Himalayan griffon vultures and two feral dogs, whose carcasses were recovered from agricultural fields near the Bhira forest range in Kheri district on April 7, has confirmed insecticide poisoning as the cause of death.

The report, issued by the Bareilly-based Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) and received by forest officials on Saturday, stated that the birds died due to the toxic effects of Carbofuran, a systemic insecticide. Officials said the vultures had fed on carcasses of feral dogs that had consumed cooked rice laced with Carbofuran, which was allegedly kept in the fields to kill the dogs. Since the insecticide remains highly toxic and circulates through plant tissues, its impact on the dogs and subsequently on the vultures proved fatal.

Samples of the cooked rice collected from the field, along with tissue samples from the dogs and vultures, were sent to IVRI after preliminary findings pointed towards poisoning. “Now that the cause of the deaths has clearly been established as poisoning, the department will trace the accused persons on a war footing and ensure action against them,” said divisional forest officer Kirti Chaudhary.

She added that a case under the Wildlife Protection Act and an FIR had already been registered, and both police and forest officials were investigating the matter.