GUWAHATI, 21: The latest count of the Greater Adjutant Stork population, popularly called hargilla in the city, has shown a decline within a span of eight years very pathetically.
Early Birds, a city based wild life NGO, which conducted a census on the Greater Adjutant Stork found that the roosting places in the city had been almost wiped out due to rapid urbanization. Majority of the nests of the Greater Adjutant Storks are located on the Northern bank of Brahmaputra, particularly in areas like Mandakata, Suptaguri in North Guwahati & Dadara and Singimari on the Hazo road. In recent times, these areas have witnessed rampant felling of trees mainly due to fragmentation of families. Tall trees in these areas once served as ideal places for building nests.
Wildlife experts also pointed out that, with the wetlands in and around the city being filled up for construction activities, the Greater Adjutant Storks are being robbed of the feeding ground for chicks. Efforts by Early Birds and the State Forest Department to plant suitable trees for hargilla had gone in vain as all saplings were uprooted by the miscreants. The Early Birds had planted a few simul trees at both the Muslim graveyard and at Girls’ Polytechnic which are showing good results. A spot study had revealed that during last one year, three storks died on the Deepor Beel water due to eating of poisonous substance and three due to accident, killed by garbage loaded trucks near the Boragaon garbage dumping site.
Those who participated in the current census were Moloy Baruah and others. This was stated in a press release. THE SENTINEL
Early Birds, a city based wild life NGO, which conducted a census on the Greater Adjutant Stork found that the roosting places in the city had been almost wiped out due to rapid urbanization. Majority of the nests of the Greater Adjutant Storks are located on the Northern bank of Brahmaputra, particularly in areas like Mandakata, Suptaguri in North Guwahati & Dadara and Singimari on the Hazo road. In recent times, these areas have witnessed rampant felling of trees mainly due to fragmentation of families. Tall trees in these areas once served as ideal places for building nests.
Wildlife experts also pointed out that, with the wetlands in and around the city being filled up for construction activities, the Greater Adjutant Storks are being robbed of the feeding ground for chicks. Efforts by Early Birds and the State Forest Department to plant suitable trees for hargilla had gone in vain as all saplings were uprooted by the miscreants. The Early Birds had planted a few simul trees at both the Muslim graveyard and at Girls’ Polytechnic which are showing good results. A spot study had revealed that during last one year, three storks died on the Deepor Beel water due to eating of poisonous substance and three due to accident, killed by garbage loaded trucks near the Boragaon garbage dumping site.
Those who participated in the current census were Moloy Baruah and others. This was stated in a press release. THE SENTINEL
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