GUWAHATI, Oct 25 � The latest census of the greater adjutant stork population in and around the city has shown a steep decline with a count of 113. Last year, the number was 147.
The break-up of the greater adjutant stork (called hargilla in Assamese) population count since 2002 is � 288 (2002), 207 (2003), 233 (2004), 247 (2005), 167 (2006), 118 (2007), 149 in 2008, and 147 (2009).
The census � conducted by a team of Early Birds, a conservation NGO � covered ten areas known as the stork�s roosting habitat.
�The latest population count done on October 23 has shown an alarmingly declining figure, and unless urgent interventions are made, the bird faces a bleak future,� Moloy Baruah, president, Early Birds, said.
The global population of this avian species is estimated to be around 900-1,000 with the Brahmaputra valley alone accounting for over 700 greater adjutant storks.
The Early Birds team in the course of its census found the bird�s roosting places to have almost been wiped out due to rapid urbanization. A majority of the nests of the storks are located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, especially in areas like Mandakata, and Suptaguri in North Guwahati, and Dadara and Singimari on the Hajo 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. In 2008 only five nests were found on two trees at Rangmahal and five nests on two trees at Mandakata. The same area had more than 50 nests till 1990-91,� Baruah said.
Wildlife experts are also of the opinion that with the wetlands in and around the city being filled up for construction purposes, the greater adjutant storks are being robbed of much-needed feeding ground for the chicks.
�A case in point is the roosting ground behind the Ulubari market complex that has almost been filled up by the Assam State Transport Corporation for allowing a few former employees to settle there. Local people from Ulubari area had earlier demanded of the DC, Kamrup (Metro), through a signature campaign, to evict the encroachers and make it a garden with tall trees. Efforts by Early Birds and the State Forest Department to plant suitable trees for the hargilla went in vain as all saplings were uprooted by miscreants.
Early Birds had demanded of the district administration to declare the area as reserve wetland on various occasion earlier so that necessary protection could be ensured for the birds.
