Census reveals sorry state of Deepor Beel

Bird presence has almost halved within two decades

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In a development that is bound to dampen the spirits of nature lovers in particular and conscious citizens in general, a census carried out at Assam's Ramsar Site Deepor beel on February 12 has revealed that single-day sighting of avian species has almost halved in two decades.

A census carried out it 2002, before Deepor beel was accorded the status of a Ramsar Site, had recorded a single-day sighting of 19,000 water birds. However, the latest census, conducted under the forest department's Guwahati Wildlife Division by members of the Assam State Biodiversity Board and some NGOs, found only 10,289 water birds. Further, the number of counted species has come down from 70 in 2002 to 66 in 2022.

Significantly, the absent species in the latest census includes the endangered Baer's Pochard. The 2002 census had recorded the presence of 1,018 Baer's Pochard. Similarly, no spotbilled pelican was found this time, whereas five such birds were observed in 2002.

Moreover, the number of Greater Adjutant Storks has fallen sharply from 56 in 2002 to only three this year. Lesser Adjutant Storks have also dwindled from 24 in 2002 to only 3 this time. The number of Lesser Whistling Teals has fallen from 3,000 to 1,343 this time; the number of Little Grebe has come down from 348 in 2002 to only 54 in 2022; even Little Cormorants have decreased perceptively from 1,056 in 2002 to just 119 this time.

There are more examples which bear testimony to the dip in avian visitors to Deepor beel. However, the bottom line is that conservation measures must be beefed up urgently to restore the balance of nature in this Ramsite Site.

Talking to The Sentinel, wildlife and environment conservation activist Pramod Kalita said that the latest census has exposed the Government's lack of interest to protect Deepor beel and, thereby, safeguard the environment.

"The Government's commitment to protecting Deepor beel is restricted to promises made in the Assam Legislative Assembly in response to questions posed by various members," Kalita said.

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