PUNE: Five species of birds found in Maharashtra are on the verge of extinction. There are 14 species of birds that are critically endangered in the country, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Of these, seven are found in the state.
The birds found in Maharashtra are White-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, Red-headed vulture, Forest owlet and Sociable lapwing. According to IUCN, the three main reasons for the threatened status of these birds were poaching, excessive use of insecticides and loss of habitat.
Noted ornithologist Satish Pande told TOI that the listed birds were on the verge of extinction mainly due to habitat loss.
The sub-committee constituted under National Board for Wildlife has developed guidelines for threatened species recovery plan, and has also identified Great Indian Bustard, Jerdon's Courser and Nicobar Megapode as threatened bird species. It underlines need of conservation efforts and better management of their habitats on priority basis.
Pramod Patil, director Great Indian Bustard Foundation, said that just like species recovery plan developed for Great Indian Bustard, similar initiative should be taken up for other critically endangered species too. Bird species can be protected by involving the local community along with habitat management, he said.
Raju Kasambe, head important bird areas programme of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Indian Bird Conservation Network, said BNHS has given inputs for the threatened birds of the world 2012.
"The re-evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of the world's birds is going on. This document is important and accordingly conservation measures can be taken up on priority basis,'' he said.
