What is the News?
A recent study has for the first time tracked the longest in-country migration route of lesser Floricans from Rajasthan to Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district.
About the study
The study on the Lesser Florican Migration Route has been launched as part of the bustard recovery programme which is a conservation initiative for the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican.
Conducted by: The Wildlife Institute of India(WII) is implementing the study in partnership with Forest Departments of several States and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation.
Where was the study conducted? The study was undertaken in the Shokaliya landscape of Ajmer district to trace the journey of lesser floricans from their breeding grounds to their places of origin, presumably in down South.
| Note: Unprotected agricultural fields in Shokaliya are the strongholds of lesser florican’s breeding population. |
Significance of the study: This study would help experts understand the ecology and seasonal movements between breeding and non-breeding areas of Lesser Florican which were poorly known at present.
About Lesser Florican
The lesser florican (Sypheotides indicus), also known as the likh or kharmore is the smallest in the bustard family. The bird is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent, where it is found in tall grasslands.
Habitat: In India, the bird is observed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and some other regions during the monsoon season when it breeds and later disappears with its chicks to unknown places.
IUCN Status: Endangered
Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix II
Threats: The bird is threatened both by hunting and habitat degradation.
Source: This post is based on the article “Longest in-country migration route of lesser Florican from Rajasthan tracked” published in The Hindu on 4th December 2021.
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