The death of a few vultures and some wild animals reportedly under mysterious circumstances at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and nearby areas is becoming a cause for concern among conservationists here.
On December 28, three white backed vultures were found dead and another died before medical attention could be provide to it in Mavanhallah beat of the Masinagudy range. A wild dog and a couple of wild boars were also found dead in the past few days. Suspecting that the birds and animals might have fed on the carcass of some poisoned animal, officials have sent samples for analysis.
Meanwhile, the carcass of a tiger was found inside the Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) of Karnataka just beyond the MTR boundary near the Moyar river on Thursday.
Though the results of a post-mortem conducted on the carcass are yet to be known, the deaths have rattled wildlife managers.
Pointing out that a search has been launched for the source in the MTR, the Nilgiris North Division and the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), the deputy director, MTR, D. Chandran, told The Hindu that there would be a joint combing operation by the wildlife personnel of the MTR, BTR, STR and the Nilgiris North division.
Conservationists were of the view that poisoning of the carcass was more of a threat to vultures than the use of the drug, diclofenac, in places like Moyar. The presence of a large number of scrub cattle in the areas bordering the MTR such as Masinagudy and Mavanhallah was a major threat to conservation of wild animals.
Stating that the situation warrants serious attention, the Executive Committee member The Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA), K. Vijay, said the White Backed Vultures were on the list of highly endangered species and their number was hardly 250 in the district.
Stating that over 80 per cent of the vultures feed on carcasses, he referred to a study made by wildlife enthusiast E.R.C. Davidar, which had pointed out that poison was the main reason for vulture deaths in Moyar and nearby areas for about 10 years from 1986.
Activists like him seek a plan of action to deal with illegal cattle rearing in the fringe areas of the tiger reserves.
