Conservationists have raised serious concern over the large-scale death of vultures in Assam, with more than 700 birds reported dead since 2018 due to poisoning linked to the pesticide carbofuran.
Experts say the highly toxic pesticide, often sold under the trade name “Furadon,” is being misused to poison animal carcasses in an attempt to kill feral dogs that attack livestock. However, vultures feeding on these poisoned carcasses ingest the toxin and die, leading to a significant decline in their population.
According to Dipankar Lahkar, assistant director and senior conservation biologist at Aaranyak, carbofuran has emerged as one of the major threats to vultures in the state. He warned that the chemical is extremely lethal for scavenger birds and its misuse is posing a serious challenge to vulture conservation.
Wildlife experts have urged authorities to introduce stricter monitoring of the pesticide’s sale and use. They suggested that the government should make the registration of carbofuran sellers and buyers mandatory to ensure traceability and accountability in case of wildlife poisoning incidents.
Conservationists also stressed the need for greater awareness among rural communities about the ecological importance of vultures, which play a crucial role as natural scavengers by disposing of animal carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases.
Several poisoning incidents have been reported in districts such as Kamrup district, prompting calls for stronger enforcement of wildlife protection laws and coordinated action between forest departments, veterinary authorities, and local communities to protect the state’s remaining vulture population.
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