List of threatened bird species in India rises to 154
Habitat destruction is primary reason behind decline in bird numbers
Mumbai: Recent studies by BirdLife International and BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) in India have revealed that the list of threatened bird species in the country has risen from 149 in 2008 to 154. Destruction of habitat is the prime reason for all these disappearing species. According to BirdLife studies in Asia, the condition of Great Slaty Woodpecker has deteriorated from “Least Concern” to “Vulnerable”, while that of Rufous-backed Bunting has deteriorated from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered”.
Commenting on the decline in bird numbers, BNHS director Dr Asad Rahmani said, “It is extremely alarming that almost 13% of world’s birds are either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. Great Slaty Woodpecker is an addition from India into the vulnerable category, primarily due to habitat loss. The fact that now 154 bird species from India are threatened, as against 149 last year, is an indicator of further deterioration of the environment.”
Dr Rahmani, who is also a member of the Global Council of BirdLife and Chairman of BirdLife Asia Council added that supposedly common species in India like Nilgiri Blue Robin and White-bellied Blue Robin have been included in the endangered category. Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck are considered extinct in India since they have not been seen for nearly 100 years. But as there is still hope to rediscover these birds, they have been included in the critically endangered category.
BNHS and IBCN (Indian Bird Conservation Network, which was set up by BNHS) have been working on several critically endangered species like Bengal Florican,Jerdon’s Courser, Sociable Lapwing, Forest Owlet and four species of vultures. Dr Rahmani has been working on the Great Indian Bustard for 30 years. This bird, one among the 16 endangered species in India, is very likely to become critically endangered soon, unless concrete steps are taken for the protection of its habitat.
Globally, the picture is no different. BirdLife has announced extinction of Alaotra Grebe in the 2010 IUCN Red List update for birds. This bird was restricted to a tiny area of east Madagascar and it declined rapidly after carnivorous fish and nylon gill-nets were introduced to the lakes in which it lived. “Invasive alien species have caused extinctions around the globe and remain one of the major threats to birds and other biodiversity”, said Dr Leon Bennun, BirdLife International’s Director of Science, Policy and Information.
Other bird species suffering globally include Zapata Rail, a wetland bird from Cuba that is now critically endangered due to the menace of introduced mongooses and exotic catfish and pressure on wetlands. The Great Knot and Far Eastern Curlew are now under serious threat due to drainage of wetlands and pollution. Wattled Curassow and White-bellied Cinclodes from the Americas, Australian Painted Snipe and Kofiau Paradise-kingfisher from the Pacific, Black Crowned-crane and Ludwig’s Bustard from Africa and Corsican Nuthatch from Europe are also seriously under threat. Only a few species like Azores Bullfinch from Europe and Yellow-eared Parrotfrom Columbia have shown some increase in numbers after they got strict protection.
In light of the alarming situation of several bird species in India, BNHS strongly urges the Government of India to start special programmes for the protection of birds and their habitats. BNHS has identified 466 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) across India, which are crucial bird habitats. At present 200 among them are not officially protected. BNHS feels that all such areas should be protected and the local communities should be involved in such conservation measures in such a way that it becomes a win-win situation for all with a sustainable development model.
--- Atul Sathe,
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