In a first ever incident, Sikkim reported the mysterious death of 33 vultures and 10 kites at heights of 10-20,000 feet. Based on initial investigations, officials have ruled out bird flu but have sent samples to the High Risk Disease Investigation Center in Bhopal. Described as the fastest decline in the population of any species, over 97% of Indian vultures have died in the last decade because they eat dead cattle that have been administered with Diclofenac sodium, a common pain killer used in cattle. Despite strong reports and lobbying by the Bombay Natural History Society, the drug is banned only in Sikkim.