Those involved in conservation of the endangered bird species claim that the vultures died after eating the carcass of a poisoned dog in Hapur-6, Hikmatpur. The birds from the center, which apparently reached Hapur to feed on the carcass, were found dead at different spots.[break]
President of the center Dilli Bahadur Rawat said 15 vultures have died till Saturday starting from February 27. “The locals apparently poisoned a dog and the vultures died after eating the carcass,” Rawat said. “Some have died around the carcass while others died after returning to the vulture restaurant,” he added.
He feared more vultures may have died and revealed that the center is searching for the dead ones. “We have estimated that at least 50 vultures have died after feeding on the poisoned carcass,” he stated.
Rawat took the blame for the deaths conceding that the center had not raised awareness among the locals. “Had we given the message to not poison any animal, the deaths would not have occurred,” he said calling the deaths a great loss to their conservation efforts. “It has undone a lot of hard work,” he stated.
The conservation experts had declared 13 districts, including Dang, free of diclofenac but a poisoned dog has now put the cat among the pigeons.
Rawat claimed there are still around 250 vultures in the center that was established two years ago. The center has established two sanctuaries for old cattle to feed the birds with one having 26 cattle and another 30.
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