As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday 12 May 2019

Bengal Florican on the brink of extinction


PRAMITA DHAKAL, BHARATPUR
Apr 20, 2019-
Critically endangered Bengal Florican (Khar Majur) is going extinct at an accelerated rate in Chitwan National Park, officials say. Bengal Florican is a large terrestrial omnivorous bird that nests on the ground.
Conservationists said that the number of the bird has been decreasing due to lack of habitat. Bed Bahadur Khadka, assistant conservation officer of the park said that 12 Bengal Floricans were found in the eastern sector of Sauraha during the census of 2011. “Now, we have hardly spotted five Bengal Floricans in Harrabas, Surungkhola, and Nawalpur areas,” said Khadka.
Besides CNP, Bengal Floricans are also found in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Shuklaphanta National Park and Bardiya National Park. And like in CNP, the population of Bengal Florican has been declining at an alarming rate. It is estimated that there are 100 Bengal Floricans in Nepal. The species was uplisted from endangered to critically endangered status in the 2007 IUCN Red List. It is also listed in CITES Appendix I. According to conservationists, the bird could go extinct from Chitwan if immediate conservation measures are not taken. “Though the species is on its way to extinction, no programmes have been launched to conserve the species in the CNP,” said Khadka.
Published: 20-04-2019 07:59

No comments:

Post a Comment