Records of the Zoological Survey of India - A Journal of Indian Zoology

Gopinathan Maheswaran ¹, Imran Alam ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, M-Block New Alipre, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Arunachal Pradesh, a state of India is one of the world's most difficult mountainous regions, extremely precipitous and highly jagged, measuring an area of about 83,500 km². The NE India has the highest avian diversity in India, with around 900 species (Choudhury 2000; 2001a). Many of these are threatened. Of the 15 Critically Endangered species of bird listed in India, seven have been recorded in this region. Of the 18 endangered species of bird in India, 12 have been recorded in the North-east. Of the 53 vulnerable species of birds in India, 33 have been recorded in the North-east. Overall, 60% of the threatened birds in the country have been recorded in the North-east. Surveys were carried in Namdapha Tiger Reserve and National Park, Pakke Tiger Reserve, Eagle Nest and Sessa Wildlife Sanctuaries, Anini district of Arunachal Pradesh (part of Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary and Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015 to find out the waterbird diversity with special reference to White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis.

Keywords

Arunachal Pradesh, Rivers, Waterbirds, Wetlands.

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Anindya Naskar ¹, Imran Alam ¹, Amitava Majumder ¹, Gopinathan Maheswaran ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata – 700053, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Of the 271 species of birds recorded previously from the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), only 162 species have been sighted continually during the last decade and 109 species become locally extinct, majority of which are water birds. Surveys were conducted in and around EKW to assess the impact of developmental activities on the avian diversity, especially on the recently rediscovered Blue-breasted Quail population. We used Land Use Land Cover analyses to ascertain the recent changes that have happened to the areas around Baruipur wetlands where the quails have been recorded recently and found Build-up areas have increased since 2009 resulting in land use changes for human related activities by potentially threatening whole population of Blue-breasted Quail, which is the largest recorded breeding population of this species from India in recent time. Hence, the study is important for the conservation of the species.

Keywords

Conservation, King Quail, Rediscovery, Threat, Wetlands.

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