Rapid urbanisation and its resultant habitat degradation have sounded the death knell for various species of flora and fauna, the latest to join the endangered animal list being the Yellow-breasted Bunting — a bird species once abundant in Eurasia, stretching its wings from Finland to Japan. Joint research by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the UK-based Birdlife International has found a 90 per cent decline in the species, which has retracted from its range area by 5,000 sq km since 1980.

Experts have identified unsustainable hunting — especially in China, where they are hunted for food — as a reason for their dwindling numbers. According to BNHS director DrAsadRahmani, "The decline of a once-common species like Yellow-breasted Bunting (which is a winter visitor to India) further proves that illegal hunting could be the reason for the disappearance of many other common Indian bird species. Action is taken only when poaching of large mammals is reported. But, what about the insidious and clandestine trapping of large numbers of birds that still goes on in some parts of our country? The authorities should bring to a halt all types of poaching and trapping. The way the Nagaland forest department stopped killings of Amur Falcons in its Doyang area shows that authorities can take effective measures if they want. Forest department, police, civil authorities, NGOs and civil society should come together to stop or at least curb poaching of all wild species."

The birds occur prominently in China, where they are known as rice birds. Despite a ban on their sale in 1997, following an initial decline in numbers, the bird is sold readily in the black market. Trapping them is easy considering that they come in large flocks to roost at night. In India, the Yellow- breasted Bunting mainly comes as a migratory bird during winter and is usually found in northeastern states like Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Manipur. It is also found in West Bengal, Bihar and the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh.

"To reverse the decline, we need to better educate people about the consequences of consuming wildlife. We also need better law enforcement," said Simba Chan, senior conservation officer of BirdLife International. Experts further stated that coordinated monitoring activities are urgently needed in East Asia. A new agreement among China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Russia is the first step towards developing a coordinated monitoring of migratory birds. The situation is so serious that the Convention on Migratory Species has agreed to develop an international action plan for the recovery of the Yellow-breasted Bunting throughout its range by 2017.

Speaking about this huge decline, DrPramodPatil, a city-based environmentalist, said, "Even a 40 to 50 per cent decline is serious. Decline as vast as 90 per cent is alarming. There is a need for more research in the topic regarding the co-relating factors and causations. Accordingly, effort should be made at all levels to save the bird."