Adjutant loses territory

Sub: Environment

Sec: Species in news

Greater adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius):

Once found widely across southern Asia and mainland southeast Asia, the greater adjutant is now restricted to a much smaller range with only three breeding populations; two in India, with the largest colony in Assam and a smaller one around Bhagalpur; and another breeding population in Cambodia.
- Habitat in Assam: Brahmaputra valley, Assam, primarily in the districts of Guwahati, Morigaon, and Nagaon.
Breeding and Feeding:
- Breeding season: October to February.
- Dependence on wetlands for foraging and tall trees for roosting and nesting.
Diet: Principally carnivorous, feeding on fish, frogs, snakes, other reptiles, eels, birds, offal and carrion. It shares the habit of scavenging with vultures.
These storks are not migratory and rely entirely on the threatened wetlands of Assam.
Conservation Status: Listed as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Historical Population: Guwahati once had the largest concentration of these storks in India.

Habitat Challenges:

Rapid urbanization has led to the loss of wetlands, a critical habitat for these storks.
Many are now confined to a garbage dumping site near the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary, a Ramsar site.
Habitat Destruction:
- Wetlands and roosting trees are being destroyed by encroachment, overfishing, and drainage projects.
- Many roosting trees are on private land and are being cut down.
Human Interaction:
- Local communities often drive the birds away due to the strong odour of their droppings and the presence of rotting meat brought to feed their hatchlings.

Source: TH