Jorhat, April 7: Charingia Gaon, a small hamlet near this town, has become the hottest destination of ornithologists and local birdwatchers.
Ever since a team of nature lovers belonging to Aaranyak — a well-known non-governmental biodiversity conservation society of the Northeast — discovered a large community of endangered lesser adjutant storks in Dulu Baruah’s house in the village recently, the queues have been growing longer.
The lesser adjutant stork, already listed as a “vulnerable” species in the Red Data Book, is found only in the northeastern region of the country, particularly in the Brahmaputra Valley.
More than 20 birds of this species had made Baruah’s vegetable garden their permanent home for nearly a decade now. For the past 10 years, Baruah has been the lone protector of the birds and their nests on a tall tree in his backyard.
“Several poachers and some villagers had off and on approached me to allow them to kill the birds for their meat. But me and my family never succumbed to either their pleas or requests,” Baruah disclosed with evident pride. Now, however, Baruah is not alone. Aaranyak volunteers have decided to join him in his vigil.
The genesis of the discovery of this nest of rare avian species can be traced to the rescue of a wounded bortokola, which is how the stork is locally known, by some youths. The youths, members of local NGOs that enjoy good relations with Aaranyak, informed the latter.
This was followed by a visit of the Aaranyak team to Charingia Gaon to have a look at the wounded stork. It was then that the team chanced upon the stork community in Baruah’s garden.
Delighted by this discovery, Manjit Bora, the co-ordinator of the Upper Assam division of Aaranyak, said, “We are sanguine of the presence of more storks in this area. Mass awareness is needed now to protect the birds and their habitat.”
The NGO plans to launch a massive awareness and conservation campaign in this area soon. As a matter of fact, a three-member team of Aaranyak has already been engaged for a “detailed study of the area, including in Sholmora, a nearby wetland well known for its rich biodiversity and bird habitats,” said Bora.