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The white-bellied heron was spotted at Walong in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first time the white-bellied heron was sighted at a height of 1,200 meters above sea level in India.
About White-Bellied Heron:
Source: eBird
- The White-bellied Heron is a rare and elusive bird. It is the second-largest living species of heron.
- Characteristics: The White-bellied Heron is extremely shy to human presence. It is plain dark grey in colour except for the white belly part. It has a long neck.
- Habitat:
- It is one of the rarest birds in the world. At present, it is found only in Bhutan, Myanmar and the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
- But the bird has also recorded in the Kamlang Tiger Reserve in Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh through camera trap images.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
- Indian Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule IV
- Threats:
- Loss and degradation of lowland forests and wetlands through direct exploitation and disturbance by humans
- Natural forest fires have destroyed nests of Heron
Source: TOI
