Nearly 1,000 vultures found dead in Guinea Bissau

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - An unidentified outbreak has led to the deaths of nearly 1,000 vultures in Guinea Bissau, the Vulture Conservation Organization (VCF) said on Thursday.

Some 200 vultures were found dead last month. Since then, the death toll has risen, turning into an "environmental disaster."

"This unprecedented and significant mortality incident poses a severe blow to the already vulnerable conservation status of vultures in Africa, both nationally and regionally," the VCF said in a statement.

Despite some political problems in the country, the statement added, authorities responded quickly to the incident to prevent further fatalities but the cause of dying remains unidentified.

The VCF said that most, if not all of the dead vultures, seem to be hooded vulture species which are listed as "critically endangered."

"Vultures were bubbling from their beaks while dying," and "seemed to search for water," the organization said, citing local reports.

Conservation groups, including the VCF, continue to closely monitor the incident.

There are 23 species of vultures worldwide.