NEW DELHI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Wildlife authorities in India's northeastern state of Assam on Friday said they have found the carcasses of nearly 100 endangered vultures and made efforts to save many others in critical condition.
The birds were found dead Thursday evening near the Chhaygaon area in Assam's Kamrup district, about 54 km west of Dispur, the capital city of Assam.
Veterinarians, wildlife field staff and other officials have been sent to the area to take stock of the situation.
"About 100 vultures have been found dead and many critical at Milanpur, Chhaygaon. The doctors and field staff are trying their best to treat the critical ones," a local forest department official said.
A senior wildlife official in Kamrup, Dimpi Bora told media that it is for the first time she has seen so many vultures dying at a time. She suspected the vultures had eaten some poisonous food.
"We have found some bones of goat nearby the carcasses of the vultures. We have suspected that the vultures died after eating the poisonous goat carcass. But the cause of death will come out in the post-mortem report," Bora was quoted as saying.
Officials said they have collected the viscera of the birds to test them in order to ascertain the actual cause of their death.
A local media report said the vultures reportedly fed on pesticide-laced goat carcass, and this led to their death.
"The vultures were found dead in a paddy field," the report said, "A total of 97 vultures have been confirmed dead, while 12 vultures and one eagle are being treated." ■