Updated: May 01, 2015 22:41 IST
A recently-held survey of bird at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivli, has recorded 194 species, 29 more than the last study held 34 years back.
According to the 2014-15 Bird Diversity of SGNP report, four rare species have been spotted. However, the number of water birds and carnivore species such as vultures were either absent or declining.
In fact birds of prey like vultures have gone completely missing, said the report. Researchers have said one of the causes for this could be the use of a drug, Diclofenac. “Over the last decade, these birds haven’t been spotted and ingestion of Diclofenac, which is injected into cattle to induce milk flow, is causing their deaths,” said Saurabh Sawant, wildlife researcher and photographer, who was part of the team that conducted the survey.
The report, compiled in collaboration with SGNP and Maharashtra forest department, said the numbers of water-birds like Black-bellied tern, River tern, Oriental darter and some duck species are dwindling. “Their numbers have reduced owing to lack of water bodies and pollution,” said Dr Parvish Pandya, zoologist, Bhavans College, Andheri, a part of the survey.
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