1. Assam’s Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary sees a 70% decline in bird diversity.
2. Once home to 167 species, only 47 remain, according to recent studies.
3. Findings published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa highlight urgent conservation needs.
Guwahati, Oct 28: Assam’s Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary, once a haven for birdlife, is now experiencing a severe decline in avian diversity, with numbers dropping over 70%.
Originally hosting 167 bird species, recent studies reveal only 47 species remain, as highlighted in the study A Drastic Decline in Avian Diversity in and Around the Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary, Lakhimpur, Assam, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
Key Findings and Causes of Decline
Researchers attribute this decline to various human activities. Frequent fishing in the wetland, with nets that entrap birds, and disturbances from agricultural machinery have led to significant habitat stress.
Additionally, poaching for meat and eggs, along wit
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Agricultural expansion near the sanctuary also impacts critical foraging and breeding zones, further endangering bird species like the Lesser and Greater Adjutants, both classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN.
Urgent Need for Action
The study warns that without immediate conservation efforts, the sanctuary’s importance as a bird habitat may be lost entirely. Researchers recommend swift habitat restoration and the development of management initiatives to protect the remaining avian diversity.
Preserving the sanctuary is vital for maintaining Assam’s ecological balance and safeguarding its avian species.
