About 100 Himalayan griffon vultures, a “near threatened” species, have died of suspected poisoning in Assam’s Kamrup district since Thursday night, prompting calls for the regulation of pesticide sale and stern action against those involved. A fortnight ago, 36 vultures had died under similar circumstances in the eastern district of Dibrugarh Kamrup West divisional forest officer (DFO) Dimpi Bora told The Telegraph that forest authorities had burnt the carcasses of 98 vultures and one eagle on Thursday night in the Milanpur area of Chaygaon, about 85km from Guwahati. Two more carcasses were found in the same area on Friday. “We suspect the vultures died after feeding on a cow carcass laced with the pesticide Furadan, (used as a trap) to check the dog menace in the area,” Bora said. “We have also found goat bones at the site. The local dogs harm the goats and calves in the area. Unfortunately, the vultures paid the price. We managed to rescue 10 vultures and one eagle.” Bora said the post-mortem and forensic reports were awaited “but prima facie it is a case of poisoning by pesticide”.