Rare birds found in Yellow River wetland

CIHAN  | GUANGZHOU - 11.12.2015 10:40:33

Twenty-two bustards, which are a rare, protected species, have been spotted on wetland along the Yellow River in central China's Henan Province, it was announced on Friday.

As an extremely-endangered species, bustards are included by the International Center for Birds of Prey (ICBP) in the red book of the world's endangered birds. There are only about 500 bustards in China, said Zhang Yifan, deputy director with the administrative office of the Sanmenxia Yellow River Wetland.

"This is the first sighting of bustards on the wetland this year," Zhang said, adding that observation will continue to help conservation of the species.

Bustards are large, highly terrestrial birds that can grow as large as 70 cm tall. They weigh around 10 kilograms, with males weighing slightly more at about 15 kilograms. They are native to prairies and semidesert areas across Eurasia. (Cihan/Xinhua)

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Beleaguered bustards

The declining fortunes of many bird species in India, and the likelihood that some of the critically endangered ones would barely exist in a small part of their historical range in coming years call for a serious review of conservation efforts. There are 145 avian species in the country facing various levels of threat according to a list compiled for the current year by IUCN, an international conservation organisation. Among the birds that face a bleak future is the great Indian bustard. By some estimates, less than 250 representatives of this heavy, terrestrial species survive today. Research insight points to the peculiarities of its grassland habitat, growing pressures from cattle grazing and expanding farming activity as significant causes for its depletion. The Bombay Natural History Society, after a lot of study, has expressed worry at the lack of a comprehensive approach to conservation. A comeback for the great Indian bustard, as well as the lesser florican and Bengal florican belonging to the same family, will now depend on a conservation programme that is based in science and quickly builds community support. Rajasthan has the largest known population of the great Indian bustard and has done well to allocate resources to aid a dedicated effort.

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