Lesser Floricans, Found Only in Indian Subcontinent, Are in Trouble; May Go Extinct: Survey

Indore, Jul 16: The population of Lesser floricans, who migrate to the central and western parts of India from other parts of the country during the breeding season, is fast dwindling as their habitats are shrinking, a survey has found.

The number of these Bustard-family birds, popularly known as `Kharmore' or `Likh' in Central India, has nosedived by 80 per cent in the last 17 years, a 2017 survey led by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) said.

"A conservative estimate of 264 individuals that indicates about 80 per cent population decline in last 3-4 generations since 2000" was observed, the survey report, which came out recently, said. Every year, the birds migrate to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat in July, and live there for around four months before flying off elsewhere. They are found only in the Indian subcontinent.

Construction activity, urbanisation and over-grazing of grasslands are destroying the birds' habitats, while predators such as stray dogs and other feral animals also pose a threat as they prey on the birds' eggs, the survey said. Ratlam-Sardarpur in Madhya Pradesh, Shokaliya-Kekri in Rajasthan and Akola-Washim areas of Maharashtra were found to be the most threatened habitats, the report said.

Last year, Lesser floricans were found mostly in Velavadar area in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat and Shokaliya-Bhinia in Ajmer district of Rajasthan, it said.

A national-level conservation program was needed to save these birds from extinction, the report said. Ornithologist Ajay Gadikar, who was the convener of the survey for Madhya Pradesh, said the Lesser floricans are among the 50 most endangered bird species in the world. The survey was carried out by the WII with the help of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Corbett Foundation and officials of the four states.