A majestic Himalayan Griffon vulture, a rare sight in these parts, was found lying ill in a field in Karimpur, Nadia district on Tuesday. Sadly, despite rescue efforts by forest officials, the bird succumbed to avian influenza a day later.

The magnificent creature, with a wingspan of around 3 meters and weighing 8-10kg, was spotted by locals in Char Meghna village, under Hogolberia police station. Manjur Ahmed, a local environmentalist and teacher, informed the forest department, which promptly rescued the bird and shifted it to the Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary.

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“The bird was suffering from bird flu,” confirmed Pradip Bauri, divisional forest officer, Nadia-Murshidabad division. “We tried our best to save its life, but it succumbed to the infection a day later.” Mr Bauri further added that the vulture was not from any research centre or forest department release programme. “It had no tags or marks, indicating it was raised in the wild. However, its exact origin remains a mystery,” he said.

This sighting was particularly significant as these vultures are primarily found in the Himalayas, Tibet, and other mountainous regions, bordering India. While not unheard of in the arid regions of northern India, they are a rare sight in West Bengal. Interestingly, just a few days before this incident, two Himalayan Griffon vultures were spotted in Murshidabad, a neighboring district. According to forest officials, Himalayan Griffon vultures are scavengers, feeding on carrion and building their nests on high cliffs.

They are singleegg layers, with a long lifespan of over 40 years. Notably, these birds are known for their impressive migratory range, covering thousands of kilometres, during their seasonal movements. The death of this majestic creature highlights the importance of wildlife conservation and disease prevention measures. While the exact cause of its presence in West Bengal remains unknown, the unfortunate demise serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the vulnerability of endangered species.