14 bird species on verge of extinction in India

 

At least 14 species of birds from India are on the verge of extinction due to poaching, over use of pesticides and loss of habitat, government said.

“According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, 14 species of birds from India are critically endangered, which do not include peacocks,” she said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

“The major threats being faced by these bird species include habitual destruction, poaching, indiscriminate use of pesticides and chemicals harmful to birds etc,” she explained.

According to the IUCN list, the critically endangered birds include White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Pink-headed Duck, White-belled Heron, Sociable Lapwing, Christmas Frigatebird, Jerdon’s Courser, Siberian Crane, Bengal Florican, Himalayan Quail, Forest Owlet, Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Describing the measures taken to protect these endangered birds, the minister said the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides for stringent punishments for those violating the provisions of the act.

Besides, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to control the illegal trade in wildlife, including endangered birds and their parts or products, she added.

Replying to another query on the impact of communication towers on wildlife including birds and bees, Natarajan said the report of the “Expert Committee” to study the matter is under examination of the ministry.

Extinction of Birds in India

A number of birds are on the verge of extinction in the country. As per the report of the scientific institutions like Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai and Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, the IUCN Red List version 2010.1 indicates 14 Critically Endangered species of birds from India. The details of the bird species reported from India which are listed as Critically Endangered are at Annexure.

 The important steps taken for protecting the endangered birds of India are given below:

 (i)                 Rare and endangered birds are included in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby according them highest degree of protection.

 (ii)                  Stringent punishments have been provided for in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for violation of the provisions of the Act.

 (iii)                Important habitats of birds, including endangered and migratory birds have been notified as Protected Areas under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for better conservation and the protection of birds and their habitats.

 (iv)             Financial & technical assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments for protection and management of the Protected Areas.

 (v)               The State/Union Territory Governments have been requested to strengthen the field formations and intensify patrolling in and around the protected areas.

(vi)                Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been established for control of illegal trade in wildlife, including endangered species of birds, and their parts and products.

 (vii)                 India is signatory to all major international conventions relating to conservation and management of wildlife, including endangered species of birds. These are Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

 (viii)            The Sub-committee constituted under National Board for Wildlife, has developed Guidelines for Threatened Species Recovery Plan and has also identified Great Indian Bustard, Jerdon’s Courser and Nicobar Megapode as threatened bird species, for conservation and better management of their habitats on priority basis.

 (ix)                Research and monitoring activities on birds are promoted by the Government through reputed research organizations. Wildlife Institute of India, Bombay Natural History Society and Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History are some of the research organizations engaged in research for conservation of birds.

Details of bird species reported from India which are listed as Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List version 2010.1

 

S. No.	Common Name	Scientific Name	Family	Status
1	White-rumped Vulture	Gyps bengalensis	Accipitridae	CR
2	Indian Vulture	Gyps indicus	Accipitridae	CR
3	Slender-billed Vulture	Gyps tenuirostris	Accipitridae	CR
4	Red-headed Vulture	Sarcogyps calvus	Accipitridae	CR
5	Pink-headed Duck	Rhodonessa caryophyllacea	Anatidae	CR
6	White-bellied Heron	Ardea insignis	Ardeidae	CR
7	Sociable Lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	Charadriidae	CR
8	Christmas Frigatebird	Fregata andrewsi	Fregatidae	CR
9	Jerdon’s Courser	Rhinoptilus bitorquatus	Glareolidae	CR
10	Siberian Crane	Grus leucogeranus	Gruidae	CR
11	Bengal Florican	Houbaropsis bengalensis	Otididae	CR
12	Himalayan Quail	Ophrysia superciliosa	Phasianidae	CR
13	Spoon-billed Sandpiper	Eurynorhynchus pygmeus	Scolopacidae	CR
14	Forest Owlet	Heteroglaux blewitti	Strigidae	CR

 

CR: Critically Endangered.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (I/C)SmtJayanthi  Natarajan in a written reply to a question By Shri Kanwar Deep Singh in Rajya Sabha.