
Kaziranga's hidden treasures: 1st Grassland Bird Survey reveals thriving diversity
In a landmark step for wildlife conservation in Northeast India, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve officially released its First Grassland Bird Survey report, marking a significant milestone in the documentation and protection of grassland-dependent bird species in the Brahmaputra floodplains.
Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, said that the extensive survey, conducted between March 18 and May 25, spanned the Eastern Assam, Biswanath, and Nagaon Wildlife Divisions.
'Utilising a combination of point count surveys and passive acoustic monitoring, the initiative represents the first dedicated attempt to assess grassland avifauna across this ecologically critical landscape. A total of 43 grassland bird species were recorded, including 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable species, along with several species endemic to the region, as per the IUCN Red List. The survey placed special emphasis on ten focal species that are either globally threatened or endemic to the Brahmaputra floodplains: Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin, Finn's Weaver, Swamp Grass Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Slender-billed Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Marsh Babbler, Bristled Grassbird, and Indian Grassbird,' Dr Sonali Ghosh said.
The Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve further said that the key highlight of the survey was to find the breeding colony of the endangered Finn's Weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus).
'This remarkable bird (a LIFER for many birdwatchers), a master nest-builder atop trees, is a vital indicator of grassland health. These species serve as ecological indicators of the health and integrity of floodplain grasslands. A key highlight of the study was the deployment of passive acoustic recorders, enabling non-invasive and continuous monitoring even in inaccessible or high-risk areas. This approach significantly improved species detection, especially of shy and cryptic birds, enhancing the overall accuracy and depth of the findings. The report identifies several critical grassland habitats within Kaziranga that support significant populations of threatened and endemic species. Notably, the discovery of a breeding colony of the Endangered Finn's Weaver in the Kohora Range marks a pivotal finding and reinforces the need for focused habitat protection and management,' Dr Ghosh said.
She also said that the report is the result of a collaborative effort by a dedicated team of forest officials, scientists, and conservationists.
Expert enumerators included bird experts and scientists such as Dr Asad R Rahmani, Dr Anwar Uddin Choudhury, Dr Ranjan Kumar Das, Dr Udayan Borthakur, Dr Sonali Ghosh, Chiranjib Bora, Dr Smarajit Ojah, Dr Biswajit Chakdar, Shyamal Saikia, Hina Brahma, Dr Leons Mathew Abraham, Sujan Chatterjee, Abidur Rahman, Bitupan Kalita, Arif Hussain, Jugal Borah, Rahul Sarma, Luson Prakash Gogoi, Dipankar Deka, Neeraj Bora, Arun C Vignesh, Khagesh Pegu, and Rajib Hazarika.
'The Survey report was released by the Minister of Environment Forest and Climate change in an event on 11th July at Kaziranga and he appreciated the efforts of the Park authorities to document lesser known aspects of biodiversity in the Park. This report represents an important first step in the long-term conservation of grassland birds. It emphasises the need for continued ecological monitoring and adaptive management to safeguard these fragile ecosystems. This pioneering work reaffirms Kaziranga's stature not only as a stronghold for charismatic megafauna but also as a critical refuge for avian biodiversity within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot,' Dr Sonali Ghosh said.
She further added that the report serves as a model for integrating rigorous science into protected area management, offering a replicable template for other landscapes across India and beyond.
On the other hand, Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary wrote on X, 'Thrilled to share that Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve's first-ever grassland survey has recorded 43 grassland bird species--including 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable species, plus several regional endemics. The Brahmaputra floodplain ecosystem boasts the highest diversity of grassland obligate birds in India, reflecting the habitat's robust health and effective protection. Our commitment to science-backed management continues strong!.' (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Modi hails Shubhanshu Shukla's return to Earth as India's new Chandrayaan moment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday likened Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's safe return to Earth from the Axiom-4 mission this month to the historic moon landing of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023. In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Modi said such landmark moments spark a new wave of enthusiasm across the country, especially by igniting children's curiosity about science and space. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) 'The moment Shubhanshu landed safely back on Earth, people jumped with joy. A wave of happiness swept through every heart. The whole country was filled with pride,' Modi said in his 124th Mann Ki Baat speech. 'I still remember when Chandrayaan 3 successfully landed on the Moon in August 2023, a new atmosphere was created in the country.' 'Little children now say, we will also go to Space; we will also land on the Moon – we will become space scientists,' he said, adding that space startups have grown at a rapid speed, from less than 50 startups five years ago to over 200 now. Launched on June 25, 2025 aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the Axiom-4 mission concluded on July 15 after an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was conducted in collaboration with NASA, Axiom Space and ESA, wherein Shukla and his crewmates carried out 60 experiments on medicine, agriculture, and the effect of space. India will celebrate its second National Space Day on August 23, which commemorates the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. Modi has invited citizens to share their suggestions on how the occasion should be celebrated, asking them to submit ideas on the NaMo app. Modi also highlighted recent achievements in science, including students winning medals at the International Chemistry and Mathematical Olympiads. He also noted that Mumbai will host the world's largest Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in August, with participants from over 60 countries. He called it a sign of India's growing strength in both 'Olympics and Olympiads.' He lauded India's performance at the World Police and Fire Games held in the US, where Indian personnel won nearly 600 medals and placed among the top three out of 71 countries. He also announced that India will host the 2029 edition of the event. Shifting focus to India's cultural achievements, Modi said, 'UNESCO has recognized 12 Maratha forts as World Heritage Sites. Eleven forts in Maharashtra; one in Tamil Nadu. Each fort has a chapter of history attached to it. Every stone is a testimony to a historical event.' UNESCO's recognition highlights a defence network built by the Marathas between the 17th and 19th centuries across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. However, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) had advised deferring the nomination, saying the selected forts weren't enough to represent the full Maratha defence system and raised concerns about protection and classification. Despite this, India's bid won strong support at the World Heritage Committee session in Paris. August is the 'month of revolution,' marking several pivotal moments in India's history like Tilak's death anniversary (August 1), the Quit India Movement (August 8), Independence Day (August 15), and Partition Horrors Remembrance Day (August 14), said the Prime Minister. The Swadeshi Movement of 1905 kicked off on August 7, the date we now honour as National Handloom Day. This year will mark a full decade of celebrating looms and legacy, noted the PM. Far from being just threads and textiles, the handloom sector, he said, is a sign of empowerment, weaving together women's ambition, rural enterprise, and cultural identity. As the government sets its sights on 2047, the centenary of independence, the PM's call was clear: go vocal for local, buy what's made here, stitched here, and is steeped in the sweat and skill of our own people.


The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
science for all: 64% of carnivores' homes facing high human pressure
Big carnivores like wolves, tigers, and wolverines help keep ecosystems healthy yet many of them are disappearing. To understand where these declines are most pronounced, a new study in Science Advances has reported where on the earth the world's 257 land‑dwelling carnivore species live and how much of their home ranges are safe versus where they are threatened by people building roads, farms, and cities. The authors of the study, an international team from institutes around the world, downloaded the latest range maps for every living carnivore from the IUCN Red List and retained 257 strictly terrestrial species for their analysis. Then, they combined each range map with the 2018 Human Footprint layer, a grid of 1 sq. km cells that scored eight kinds of human activity, from population density to railways, on a 0 to 50 scale. Scores of 4 or higher marked land that had been heavily altered by human activities. They overlaid three global datasets on this grid: Protected Areas listed by the IUCN, Indigenous peoples' lands managed by native communities, and wilderness areas (large tracts with almost no human pressure). When they analysed these composite maps, they found that 64% of all carnivore habitats worldwide are currently in high‑pressure hotspots. The pattern was the same for species already on the IUCN threatened list and those still considered stable. They also found Indigenous peoples' lands shelter 26% of global carnivore range, wilderness areas 16%, and Protect Areas 10% — and together they cover about 35% of carnivore habitat, meaning most carnivore territory lies outside areas set aside for nature. More specifically, most canids, felids, mongooses, and mustelids each had far less than 40% of their ranges in any protected category. Unsurprisingly, already shrinking animal populations had the biggest share of their habitats in high‑pressure zones, confirming human activity is a major driver of their decline. Statistical tests also indicated carnivores generally occupy larger, unprotected areas outside conservation lands. '[W]e found that the overlap between Protected Areas and wilderness areas is minimal in the Indo-Malay region, covering only 0.2% of the area, while the highest overlap occurs in the Neotropic region at 7%,' the team wrote in its paper. Taken together, the study showed that most carnivores live where people are changing the landscape fastest, and formal reserves alone are not large or connected enough to keep these predators safe. While Indigenous territories are critical havens, they also face growing pressures. From the Science pages Question Corner Where is the centre of the universe? Find out here Flora and fauna


Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Operation Sindoor to feature in NCERT Class 3–12 books, curriculum to include Shubhanshu Shukla, ISRO too: Report
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will soon introduce a module on Operation Sindoor. Two modules are currently in development, one for Classes 3rd to 8th and another for Classes 9th to 12th. An 8-10 page module will detail India's achievements and armed forces. The goal is to educate students about India's military strength, ANI reported. Students will also learn about Mission LiFE, the horror of partition, India's rise as a Space Power, ranging from Chandrayaan to Aditya L1 and insights from Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla on the International Space Station, it added.