Himalayan Griffon Vultures Death:
25 Himalayan Griffon vultures died in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve due to suspected secondary poisoning after scavenging on stray dog carcasses that had consumed pesticide-laced rice.Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts lies in the Terai belt along the Indo-Nepal border. It comprises Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, and is drained by the Mohana and Suheli rivers.The Himalayan Griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is an Old World vulture and ranks 2nd only to the cinereous vulture in size among Old World vultures.Old World vultures are a group of scavenging birds found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. While they share many physical similarities with New World vultures (found in the Americas), they are biologically distinct and belong to the family Accipitridae—the same family that includes eagles, hawks, and harriers.
Conservation Status:
The Himalayan Griffon is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, providing it the highest level of legal protection in the country.
It is listed under Appendix II of CITES, which regulates international trade of the species.
