850 Greater Adjutant Storks found in Assam

GUWAHATI, July 26: Assam can take pride in the fact that out of about 1,000 global population of greater adjutant storks, about 850 are found in the state, according to Prashanta Kumar Saikia of the department of zoology at Gauhati University. Saikia said the bird has been identified as "endangered" globally and is included in the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of India (1972). The remaining 150 birds have been spotted in Cambodia spread over about 40 nests. In Assam, the concentration of this species is found in and around the state capital. Dadara near Hajo in Kamrup district has an impressive presence of these storks followed by a few other places. Inside Kaziranga National Park only two nests could be found constantly since 1972, Saikia said. Greater adjutant storks normally make their nests on trees like shimalu and kadam. About 10 or more nests can be found in the same tree. However, there must be a good presence of bamboo trees in and around. The mating season of this species begins from October and lasts till April. After this, they come out of their nests in search of food and frequent garbage dumps in nearby areas for food. Saikia said this was the reason sometimes quite a few storks are seen in the garbage dumps at the backside of Gauhati Commerce College, Adabari bus station. They eat snakes and frogs. Saikia, who was awarded a PhD degree for his thesis on this species, said in Assam a total of 162 nests have been found till recently with as many as 40 in the Dadara area itself. He said in an effort to create a suitable environment for more natural breeding of this species, he had initiated steps for plantation of trees necessary for their habitat. First this was done in Daulashal near Nalbari several years ago and another proposal was taken up for doing the same in the area behind Gauhati University. In case of the latter, detailed discussions are under way with the deputy commissioner of Kamrup district and forest department officials. Work is scheduled to begin soon. The government too would be requested to take ownership of the land on which these nests have been found. Saikia also emphasised on taking up steps for minimising the ill-effects of the railway line cutting through the Deepor Beel area as this would affect available flora and fauna, specially the greater adjutant storks.