107 grey francolins found dead in Dombivli; samples sent to NIV as officials probe cause

Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 6: A shocking discovery in Dombivli (West) has stirred concern among residents after a birder found 107 dead Grey Francolins (titar) near the creek in the Saptapul area of Motagaon. The unusually high number of fatalities prompted forest officials to launch an urgent investigation and send samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, to rule out infections or poisoning.

The incident surfaced when bird expert Dr. Raju Kasambe received word about numerous bird carcasses at the site. After visiting the location and confirming the situation, he alerted the forest department. Given the possibility of avian flu or other viral diseases, forest personnel followed strict safety protocols—using gloves, protective gear, and sealed contain