:: Wildlife Trust Of India :: Vultures, migratory geese poisoned in Assam; six geese succesfully treated at CWRC

Geese being released, following their treatment at CWRC

Vultures, migratory geese poisoned in Assam;
six geese successfully treated at CWRC

Sivasagar (Assam), February 23, 2010: Six Himalayan griffon vultures and a number of migratory geese were killed due to poisoning in Sivasagar district of the northeast Indian state of Assam last week. Six of the poisoned geese were treated at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), and released.

Authorities believe the poisoning to be a handywork of poachers who used grains laced with poison as bait to kill the geese for meat.

“During winters these migratory birds visit the area. The offenders had left grains coated with insecticide to kill these birds. We have filed an FIR,” said Utpal Bora, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Sivasagar.

A total of eight greylag geese and one bar-headed goose were found in a critical state in Kalugaon village, Sivasagar district on February 13 by local NGO personnel who alerted the Forest Department officials.

Dr Phulmoni Gogoi, CWRC veterinarian said, “We provided some preliminary treatment to the birds on the site and then transferred them to CWRC. Three of them could not be saved, while six, including the bar-headed goose were released.”

The Himalayan griffon vultures were found in Hasura village near Kalugaon on February 14. Three were found dead while three others were in a very critical condition. The ill birds were transferred to the CWRC, but succumbed shortly to acute poisoning. Two vultures were released by the Forest Department.

“The vultures had fed on the carcass of a cow that had died after consuming the poisoned grains used as bait for the geese. We have sent samples for testing at the Animal Health Centre, Khanapara, Guwahati to identify the poison used,” said Dr Gogoi.

In similar instances, 21 vultures were killed in Sivasagar around April - May last year.

Learn more about Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC)

Photos: WTI