Current conservation status of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis in Manas National Park, Assam, India

Authors

  • Miranda Thakur Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5791-4610
  • Jonmani Kalita Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9582-8748
  • Namita Brahma TISS Guwahati- Tetalia Road, Jalukbari, Guwahati, Assam 781013, India.
  • Koushik Rajbongshi Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1032-1417
  • Kangkanjyoti Bhattacharyya Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.
  • Amal Chandra Sarmah Office of the Field Director- Manas Tiger Project, Barpeta Road, Assam 781315, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8916-5685
  • Alolika Sinha Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.
  • Deba Kumar Dutta WWF India- Barpeta Road, Milan Nagar, Assam 781315, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7291-9812
  • Dhritiman Das Pygmy Hog Research and Breeding Centre- Bashistha, Indira Nagar Road, Guwahati, Assam 781029, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6141-2699
  • Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8247.16.7.25507-25515

Keywords:

Aves, conservation threats, grassland specialists, habitat supervised classification, habitat disturbance, Otididae, sub-Himalayan grassland

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the current conservation status of the ‘Critically Endangered’ bird species Houbaropsis bengalensis (Gmelin, 1789), commonly known as the Bengal Florican or Bustard, in Manas National Park in Assam. The grasslands of this park, once home to the largest population of Bengal Floricans in India, are undergoing natural and anthropogenic changes. Field surveys conducted from February to April 2021 to assess florican populations recorded 50 males and 17 females, while a 2009 survey estimated 24 males in Manas NP (Brahma et al. 2009), indicating long-term population increase. Land use and land cover change maps of florican habitats were created using supervised classification. Grassland habitats face several threats, including uncontrolled natural succession coupled with livestock grazing, growth of invasive alien plants and collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by local people. These disturbances reflect the condition of grasslands that are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including grassland specialists like Pygmy Hog Porcula salvania, Hispid Hare Caprolagus hispidus, Hog Deer Axis porcinus, and mega herbivores like Indian Rhino Rhinoceros unicornis, wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee, Eastern Swamp Deer Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi, Gaur Bos gaurus, and Asian Elephant Elephas maximus. These findings indicate an urgent need to protect and restore grasslands for conservation of the Bengal Florican and other grassland-dependent species.

Author Biographies

Miranda Thakur, Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

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Jonmani Kalita, Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

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Namita Brahma , TISS Guwahati- Tetalia Road, Jalukbari, Guwahati, Assam 781013, India.

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Koushik Rajbongshi, Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

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Kangkanjyoti Bhattacharyya, Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

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Amal Chandra Sarmah, Office of the Field Director- Manas Tiger Project, Barpeta Road, Assam 781315, India.

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Alolika Sinha, Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

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Deba Kumar Dutta, WWF India- Barpeta Road, Milan Nagar, Assam 781315, India.

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Dhritiman Das, Pygmy Hog Research and Breeding Centre- Bashistha, Indira Nagar Road, Guwahati, Assam 781029, India.

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Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Aaranyak- 13 Tayab Ali Byelane, Bishnu Rabha Path, Beltola, Guwahati, Assam 781028, India.

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Published

26-07-2024

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 7 (2024)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2024 Miranda Thakur, Jonmani Kalita, Namita Brahma, Koushik Rajbongshi, Kangkanjyoti Bhattacharyya, Amal Chandra Sarmah, Alolika Sinha, Deba Kumar Dutta, Dhritiman Das, Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar

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