Guwahati, April 30 -- Written by Mubina Akhtar

The news of death of around 25 Himalayan Griffon Vultures from Uttar Pradesh recently sent shock waves through the conservation community, highlighting key gaps in conservation plans to revive vulture populations. The incident took place at Semarya village in the Lakhimpur Kheri district on April 7, 2026. Locals found the vultures collapsed one after another after feeding on a dog carcass in the buffer of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

The dog carcass was reportedly used as poison bait by some villager to get rid of feral dogs hunting livestock. It was suspected that dogs were fed rice mixed with pesticide. The Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is native to the Himalayas. This majest...