April 25, 2016 |
UPDATED 17:05 IST
New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) More than
350 species of bird migrate to India even as there has been a decline in the
number of some of these migratory avians due to various reasons, including
pollution of wetland by domestic sewage, Rajya Sabha was told today.
"Although no specific
assessment is conducted by the Ministry (Environment) with respect to species
of migratory birds visiting India, literatures published by experts, including
scientific institutions, suggest that about 370 species of birds migrate to
India out of which 175 species undertake long-distance migration using Central
Asian flyway area which also include amur falcons, Egyptian vultures, plovers,
ducks, storks, ibises, flamingoes, jacanas, pochards and others,"
Environment Minister Prakash
Javadekar said.
In a written reply, he said as
per the Asian Water Bird Census coordinated by Wetlands International, some
migratory birds in the region showed a decreasing trend during the last decade
while some species indicated a stable population.
"The decline in the number
of migratory birds is attributed to various factors including wetland
reclamation, pollution of wetland through domestic sewage, hunting, trapping of
migratory routes, indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers, reduction
of habitat, climate change," he said.
On the steps taken by the
government for protection of migratory birds, Javadekar said rarer and
endangered species are included in the Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act
1972 thereby according the highest degree of protection.
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