Stress on conservation of Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)

TINSUKIA: An interactive programme on the conservation of Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), a globally endangered bird species, was held at the conference hall of Doomdooma College on Friday. Dr Biswajit Chakdat, a scientist of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), acted as invited speaker.

Organized jointly by the Departments of Botany, Zoology and Science Society in collaboration with IQAC Doomdooma College and attended by more than 50 students, Dr Chakdat pointed out that the Bengal Florican was a globally threatened bird found in India, Nepal and Cambodia. In India its distribution is restricted to Sadiya in Tinsukia district where the number has dwindled to 700. Few are in Arunachal Pradesh and only 20 exist in Uttar Pradesh, Dr Chakdak said.

Locally known as Ulumora and listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red Data Book and in Appendix I of CITES, besides being protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, the population of this grassland bird has been declining globally, mostly due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting and collection of eggs, said Dr Chakdat. He also lucidly explained the role of students in conservation of the species during an interaction session.

Prof Geetirekha Dutta Mahanta as moderator of the programme said that better management and protection of grassland in protected and non-protected areas needed to be ensured for conservation of Bengal Florican in India. Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Prakash Jyoti Borthakur, Principal of Doomdooma College, called upon the students to lay importance on the conservation of the species.

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