- Seventy-eight out of 1353 chook species in India are endemic to the nation; three of them are critically endangered, based on a brand new guide by the Zoological Survey of India.
- The guide accommodates particulars such because the etymology of chook names and their historic relevance in addition to maps indicating their distribution.
- Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are discovered to be the principle causes for the decline of chook species. Climate change too, is contributing to it.
India is home to 12.40% of the worldwide chook variety; 1,353 chook species out of 10,906 documented globally are from India. The nation has 78 endemic chook species. Of the chook species current within the nation, 28 are discovered solely within the Western Ghats, 25 within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 4 within the Eastern Himalayas, and one every within the Southern Deccan Plateau and Central Indian Forest. This is a number of the info in a brand new guide, 75 Endemic Birds of India, by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Authored by Dhriti Banerjee, Amitava Majumder and Anindya Naskar, the guide commemorates 75 years of Indian independence.
Speaking to Mongabay-India concerning the motivation behind bringing out a guide on the endemic chook species of the nation, Amitava Majumder stated that regardless of the wealthy chook variety, there’s a shortage of details about these birds and their habitats. The concept was to convey consideration to those distinctive chook species to lift consciousness and encourage conservation efforts, he stated.
The guide takes the readers on an exploration of India’s avifauna via participating descriptions, magnificent visuals, and essential ecological insights. It packs particulars, together with the etymology of chook names and their historic relevance together with important info comparable to subspecies variations, distinguishing traits, most popular habitats, breeding habits and meals preferences. The guide additionally comes with maps indicating species distribution.
The guide additionally outlines the endemicity of Western Ghats which is home to species comparable to Malabar gray hornbill (Ocyceros griseus), Malabar parakeet (Psittacula columboides), Ashambu laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis), white-bellied sholakili (Sholicola albiventris), Nilgiri pipit (Anthus nilghiriensis) and extra. Some birds endemic to a different chook paradise, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, embody Nicobar megapode (Megapodius nicobariensis); Nicobar serpent eagle (Spilornis klossi) and Andaman crake (Rallina canningi).
Special conservation efforts wanted to guard endemicity
Director of ZSI, Dhriti Banerjee stated that as a consequence of their restricted distribution, endemic species require particular conservation efforts to stop their decline. “Our aim is to popularise the value of birds pivotal in maintaining ecological balance. This publication endeavours to enrich people’s understanding of their importance while also highlighting our country’s vibrant fauna,” she stated.
The ZSI carries out two major sorts of surveys — species-specific ones in addition to area or protected areas-focused surveys — all year long. While there aren’t any endemic bird-specific surveys performed for the guide, the outcomes had been collated from common surveys that embody endemic species as properly.
Among the 78 endemic chook species, 25 are categorized as threatened as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorisation. Specifically, three species are listed as critically endangered, 5 as endangered, and 17 as vulnerable. Additionally, 11 endemic species are categorised as close to threatened. Out of 78 species, the guide refers to a few endemic species — Manipur bush quail (Perdicula manipurensis), Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) and Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) — solely within the introduction as they haven’t been sighted in a number of a long time, a critical concern for ecologists, knowledgeable Majumder.
Habitat loss, local weather change contribute to species decline
Majumder considers habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation as the principle causes for the lack of chook variety in India as endemic birds are uniquely tailored to particular, typically small-scale ecosystems and any menace to the integrity of those ecosystems poses a grave menace to them.
“Among these species, we particularly want to highlight the Bugun liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum), white-bellied sholakili, Ashambu laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis) and the Wayanad laughingthrush (Garrulax delesserti) and some others. These birds are very much habitat specific and found in very small pockets of India,” he stated. The Bugun liocichla, for example, will depend on small and particular forest ecosystems and if that exact habitat had been misplaced, the species too can be misplaced. Similarly, the white-bellied sholakili, Ashambu laughingthrush, and the Wayanad laughingthrush are restricted to their respective ranges within the Western Ghats which might be dealing with challenges from urbanisation and rubber plantations.
Climate change, too, is having a detrimental impact on the birds. To absolutely consider its impression, nonetheless, long-term monitoring and research are required, stated Majumder. “While the effects of climate change are undoubtedly a vital concern for wildlife, including birds, they do not operate in isolation. Habitat loss, stemming from various human activities, can disrupt the ecosystems that birds rely on for nesting, foraging, and shelter. This can lead to population declines and, in some cases, endangerment or extinction of species,” he added.
The ZSI is contemplating implementing extra centered surveys completely for endemic species to realize deeper insights into their particular wants and challenges to assist conservation efforts.
Read extra: [Book review] Birds of the mountains characteristic in a brand new guide on birds on postage stamps
Banner picture: Malabar hornbill. The Zoological Survey of India carries out two major sorts of surveys — species-specific ones in addition to area or protected areas-focused surveys — all year long. Photo by Amitava Majumder.
