Human encroachment in the grassland area forced Bengal Floricans to leave their homland. There are only 450-1000 birds survive in the wild.
By Mithu Das September 04, 2011
Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis is a critically endangered species. There are only 250-1000 birds survive in the wild. Its number dwindling because of us, humans, who are altering their habitat to agricultural lands. Conservationists warned that the species may be extinct within a decade or so if we fail to save their grassland habitat. Other threats the birds are facing are: (a) illegal hunting and collection of chicks and eggs by the locals; (b) overgrazing; and (c) 'inappropriate cutting and burning of tall grass, heavy flooding, invasion of alien species, scrub expansion, dam construction and inappropriate and illegal development'.
Today, Bengal floricans are found in India, Nepal and Southern Indochina. However, in the past, they were found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Meghalaya and Tripura (India) but now locally extinct. It has been reported that the bird has also disappeared from Vietnam, although according to Birdlife International, a tiny population may still remain at Tram Chim National Park.
The population of bengal florican declined rapidly over the last three generations. These birds were considered to be threatened before 1988 but after 1994 they were uplifted to endangered; and since 2000 remain critically endangered.
World's half of the bengal floricans live in Cambodia. The Tonle Sap region supports a large number of population. However, encroachment in Tonle Sap region has nearly exterminated the species. 'Tonle Sap grasslands are rapidly being lost due to intensification of rice cultivation and, based on satellite images, we document declines of 28% grassland cover within 10 grassland blocks between January 2005 and March 2007,' says Wildlife Conservation Society of Cambodia.
Had conservationists not monitored bengal florican in Tonle Sap Region, it would have probably extinct by 2013. Wildlife Conservation Society has been monitored the species since 2002. Now, Birdlife International, along with Cambodian Government, is taking strict measures to save these birds in Cambodia.
In Nepal, the population of bengal florican is declining at an estimated rate of 56% since 1982 and 30% since 2001. A survey conducted by Laxman Prasad Poudyal and their colleagues in 2008 showed that there has been only 28–36 adult population remains in three protected areas of Nepal. However, according to IUCN, the total population are estimated between 32–60.
To protect Bengal florican in its habitat, suggests Birdlife International, we should extend our research on its breeding productivity. Extensive survey should be done to determine its present extent of occurrence. We should also introduce integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas' (IFBA) or create new protected areas for the population of Nepal, India and Vietnam. By creating of IFBAs in Cambodia are helping the species in Tonle Sap Region. 'Survey data collected in 2009 suggests that IFBAs in Cambodia harboured 68 territorial males representing 23% of the estimated national population,' says Birdlife International.
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