International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has added eight bird species found in different regions of India to its Red List of 2014, indicating that more and more of them are facing existential crisis.
Which are the new entrants?
They are: Woolly-necked Stork, Andaman Teal, Andaman Green Pigeon, Ashy-headed Green Pigeon, Red-headed Falcon, Himalayan Griffon, Bearded Vulture and Yunnan Nuthatch. Earlier, five species were added to the IUCN list released in 2013 – Great Stone Plover, Alexandrine Parakeet, Grey-headed Parakeet, Blossom-headed Parakeet and Red-breasted Parakeet.
Reason behind the threat?
The main reason is habitat destruction, though there are various other factors contributing to more bird species becoming endangered. These factors include changes in environment-climatic conditions, poaching and use of chemicals.
What's the chemical impact?
Found only in the Himalayan ranges, the Himalayan Griffon is likely to decline further due to the impact of diclofenac (a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug) use in livestock. Other vulture species are also facing the same problem. The Bearded Vulture – also found in the Himalayan ranges and similar habitats in other parts of Asia, Africa and Europe – has been facing moderately rapid population decline. The Yunnan Nuthatch, found in Yunnan province of China, has been recorded only in Arunachal Pradesh.
Where are they found?
The Woolly-necked Stork, which is facing a rapid population decline, is found in most parts of India. The Andaman Teal – whose recorded number of individual birds is 1,000 – is found only on Great Coco Island and Andaman Islands. The Andaman Green Pigeon is also widespread in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, and a couple of thousand individual ones may exist. The Ashy-headed Green Pigeon is confined to the north-eastern states, the Red-headed Falcon is found in declining numbers in most parts of India.
