For the past two days, around 70 kites, including brahminy kites ( Haliastur Indus ) and pariah kites ( Milvus migrans) , have died mysteriously near the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology in Tumakuru.
The deaths have created fear among people staying nearby.
Wild Life Aware Nature Club founder T.V.N. Murthy alleged that many people dump garbage, gunny bags soaked in blood, waste from slaughter houses, poultry waste and other waster behind the college. The kites, which are primarily scavengers, feed on the decayed meat thereby preventing the spread of diseases. He said that people staying nearby had alleged that the birds had been poisoned.
Mr. Murthy said that the Department of Forests sent some carcasses to a laboratory to ascertain the cause of death.
