Five endangered vultures found dead in Nawalparasi

Kawasoti, March 13: Five White-rumped vultures (Dangar giddha) were found dead near the Kerunge river at Kawasoti-3, Bardghat Susta of Nawalparasi East. According to the Division Forest Office, five birds were found dead and two injured. The White-rumped vulture is identified as the critically endangered bird by the IUCN Red List since 2000.

A carcass of jackal was also spotted at the site and the preliminary assessment is that the birds died after feeding on a poisonous carcass. A joint team for the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Centre Tanahu and the Division Forest Office are investigating to establish the cause of the deaths of the birds, said forest officer Mohanraj Kafle. The number of deaths could go up as nests of vultures have been found on a nearby silk cotton tree. The site lies at around two kilometers north from the district headquarters Kawasoti.