TNN | Aug
20, 2018, 04.00 AM IST
Rajkot:
The forest department has moved a proposal urging the state government to
implement the Wildlife Institute of India’s (WII) suggestions on saving the endangered
bustard family bird - lesser florican.
Lesser floricans are seen in grasslands of Velavadar Blackbuck National Park where they come for breeding during monsoon. The latest census that concluded on August 11 revealed there were 90 birds near the national park, almost same as last year.
The forest department conducted the two-day census with the marine science department students of Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University. They could find only 40 male birds inside the park and five outside, as floricans are highly sensitive and shy. It is extremely difficult to spot the females.
A survey published last year by WII had made several recommendations for the florican’s conservation. These included convincing farmers not to use pesticides, changing crop pattern and prohibiting cattle grazing in the breeding area of this birds.
Head of marine science department, Indra Gadhvi, said, “The drastic spread of gando baval has caused severe depletion in grassland, which is the main habitat of these birds. The changed crop pattern has also adversely impacted. Farmers are growing cash crops like cotton instead of pearl millet and wheat. Floricans are shy and they can’t these hide behind cotton plants.
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