Forest officials in Assam have made a troubling discovery. They found the carcasses of four Lesser Adjutant Storks near their nesting sites. This happened in the Loharghat range of Kamrup West forest division over the past two months.
Near Threatened Species Faces Loss
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Lesser Adjutant Stork as 'near threatened'. This classification highlights the species' vulnerability. Finding four dead birds represents a significant concern for conservationists.
Timeline of Discoveries
Forest department officials provided details about when they found the birds. The first carcass appeared in December. Another dead stork turned up approximately fifteen days later. The most recent incident occurred last Saturday. Officials recovered two more carcasses on that day.
All discoveries happened in specific areas. The birds were found near Maniyari Tiniali and Khatiamari. These locations contain known nesting sites for the storks.
Officials Investigate Possible Causes
Nayan Jyoti Das serves as the range officer for the area. He confirmed the recoveries came from two separate locations. Das shared his suspicions about what might have caused the deaths.
He pointed to two primary possibilities. The extreme cold conditions could have played a role. Alternatively, the birds might have fallen from their nests. This could happen when young storks attempt their first flights.
The investigation continues as officials monitor the situation. They remain alert for any further incidents involving these protected birds.
