Kaziranga bird count grows by 175 per cent from last year: Census

GUWAHATI:

The number of birds at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has gone up by 175 per cent, the results of the third annual waterfowl census conducted at the park revealed on Tuesday.

According to the census, declared by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife), Amit Sahai, the birds recorded at the national park increased from 34,284 recorded last year to 93,491 this year.

Fifty-two wetlands across Kaziranga Tiger Reserve were identified for the census, and it involved 36 seasoned birders in the two-day exercise as enumerators.

Counting of birds was carried out from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday while they compiled the data collated during the exercise on Sunday.

The primary aim of the exercise was to record and estimate waterfowl and winter migratory birds and to monitor and assess the health of wetlands.

“As many as 112 species of birds belonging to 22 families were counted during the two-day census conducted over the weekend. The highest number of species (26) are from the family Anatidae, which is the family of ducks and geese,” an official statement issued on Tuesday said.

The top three species counted by number are Eurasian Coot, Bar-headed Geese, and Common Teal.

“Of the 112 waterfowl species found in Kaziranga, 58 are migratory species visiting Kaziranga from different parts of the world, including Europe, Central Asia and East Asia,” the statement said.

“The maximum increase in the number of birds was witnessed at Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, where the number of birds increased from 9,244 to 71, 902,” it said.

We could attribute the rise in the number of birds visiting Kaziranga to the improved habitat management and water conservation measures carried out by the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve authorities, sources said.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)

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