Fifteen Himalayan griffons died and 25 other birds fell ill on Saturday evening apparently after consuming a cattle carcass at Damdim in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district.

Himalayan griffon is a vulture species. The forest department has started treating the ill birds and suspects the poisonous carcass caused the vultures’ death.

Sources said a group of around 50 Himalayan griffons had gathered near the cattle carcass dumped by some people near a quarry on the bank of the Chel river to feed on the dead animal.

“As the evening rolled, one bird after another started falling on the ground. We immediately informed foresters,” said Nafsar Ali, a wildlife conservationist at Odlabari in the Dooars.

Officers of the Targhera forest range and the Malbazar wildlife squad seized the dead birds and took the sick vultures to the nature interpretation centre at Lataguri, on the fringes of the Gorumara National Park, for treatment.

Later, Gorumara additional divisional forest officer Riya Ganguly went to the spot.

“We suspect the carcass was poisonous, which led to the deaths of vultures. Our officers have contacted vets to carry out post-mortem of the birds to know the exact cause of the death. The ill birds have been treated and are under observation,” said a forester.