An additional three vultures were found dead while one more was taken ill in Kawasoti on Tuesday evening.

The incident comes only days after six vultures were found dead in the same area.

The preliminary investigation by the Nawalpur Division Forest Office revealed the birds died after consuming poisoned carcasses. The birds had fed on the carcasses of jackals who were poisoned to death.

“Poultry farmers had used the poisoned feed for jackals that entered the coops to prey on chickens and ducks,” vulture conservationist DB Chaudhary informed, adding as many as three jackals have been found dead in the area recently.

According to Mohan Kafle, head of the Division Forest Office, individuals found guilty of the intentional death of the endangered species of vultures can be booked and punished as per the prevailing law.

“The remains of the vultures and jackals have been sent to the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), after postmortem examination, for further investigation,” Kafle said. “It may take up to three weeks for the reports to arrive. Only then will we be able to learn what type of poison caused the death of the vultures.”

The injured vulture is being treated at the Jatayu Restaurant, a community-managed vulture restaurant, alongside other vultures that were taken ill.

The Kawasoti region is home to eight of the nine species of vulture found in Nepal. The country has an estimated 15,000 vultures.