Himalayan vultures Assam: 9 vultures die of suspected poisoning in Dhakuakhana
Representative image

As many as 19 vultures have been poisoned to death at Jolatopa Lepaigon, Desungmukh in Upper Assamโ€™s Sivasagar district.

Last year, 39 vultures were killed in a similar incident at Bamrajabari, Panidihing, about 20 km east of Desangmukh.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

The cause of death may be a carcass of a calf on which the vultures fed, said Jayashree Naiding, DFO, Sivasagar.

โ€œFourteen vultures have been given treatment and are recovering fastโ€, Naiding said.

Members of BNHS and Forest department officials visited the spot on Tuesday and samples have been sent to Guwahati for ascertaining the exact cause.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

It is suspected that some villagers had poisoned the carcass of the calf to kill stray dogs.

Once a heaven of various species of birds and located close to the Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, the avian population is fast dwindling in the whole area due to a number of reasons like pollution, denuding of the forests and abject neglect of forest and bio- resources.