Achi news desk-
Guwahati: A Himalayan griffon eagle, showing signs of poisoning, was rescued in a village in Bukhata town of Golghat district, Assam, on April 25.
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The bird was brought to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Center (CWRC) for treatment and later released back into the wild by WTI-IFAW, Sonali Ghosh, IFS, Park Manager Kaziranga NP and Assam Forest Department on Thursday.
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The Himalayan griffon eagle was discovered by villagers after it fell from a tree.
The villagers then called the Assam Forest Department.
The bird was rushed to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Center (CWRC) in Kaziranga, a facility jointly managed by WTI-IFAW and the Department.
After an examination, the bird was diagnosed with poisoning apparently as a result of eating a carcass.
The eagle then fully recovered from his critical condition.
It was released in the eastern Aguratoli range of Kaziranga in Assam by Sonali Ghosh on Thursday.
Sonali Ghosh, IFS, Field Manager, Kaziranga National Park said, “It is heartening to see the Himalayan Griffon Eagle returning on its flight to recovery. For over 22 years, the CWRC team has been uncompromising in rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress.”
Bhaskar Choudhury, Divisional Head, Wild Rescue and Head Vet NE, WTI said: “We have rescued 397 vultures between 2000 and 31 March 2024, and released 244 of them after treatment. These cases involve species such as Himalayan griffon, thin-necked, white-rumped and vultures cinematic”.
The toxicity in this case was due to pesticides. The goat carcass was seized by the Ministry of Forestry and an investigation was launched. Reports also indicate that villagers often use poisoned animal carcasses to target wild dogs that prey on livestock. This practice unintentionally leads to the poisoning of vultures that feed on these carcasses.
The Himalayan Griffon Eagle is classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List.
Eagles play a crucial role as scavengers, serving as "Sanitary engineers" of nature by feeding on the carcasses of both wild and domestic animals.
Several studies indicate that the decline of eagle populations in South Asia is largely attributed to poisoning events, including pesticides and certain animal drugs, which cause kidney failure in eagles, which contributes significantly to mortality.
