Lesser Florican (Kharmor) sightings have reduced by about 90% in MP in the last couple of years. Starting from 48 pairs sighted in MP in 2015, this year, until now, only one Lesser Florican has been sighted
Lesser Florican (Kharmor) sightings have reduced by about 90% in MP in the last couple of years. Starting from 48 pairs sighted in MP in 2015, this year, until now, only one Lesser Florican has been sighted.
The sighting of Lesser Floricans is down by 87 percent since 2015 in MP.
Lesser Florican is the smallest in the bustard family and the only member of the genus Sypheotides.
One Lesser Florican male was sighted in Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We are keeping a watch for the week,” HS Mohanta, chief conservator of Forest, Indore circle, said. He added that vigilance has been up-scaled and villagers are being apprised of their presence.
“Minimum disturbance could improve on the visitation of more birds,” Mohanta said.
Forest department cheered and is excited to spot at least one Lesser Florican this year. A lot of excitement amongst the staff after the sighting of the bird, as it gives them hope of revival of their habitat.
“The birds come to MP for breeding and usually stay here till October and they fly back South,” Mohanta said.
Forest department recorded just 6 sightings of Lesser Florican in 2020. Further, in 2019, 11 Lesser Floricans were sighted.
The number used to be 48 in the year 2015.
What is being done for Lesser Florican in MP?
“We are scanning the adjoining areas in Dhar and Jhabua as well where the conservation efforts are being made. Some areas in Jhabua and Dhar are being fenced off to create a habitat for them. They require at least one foot tall grasses for their obscurity. The fenced off sites in the recent years should be the ideal ones. We are trying to scan all such sites for their presence in those.”
HS Mohanta
CCF
Indore circle
Reasons for the smallest bird's threatened status
It is threatened both by hunting and habitat degradation. Some reasons cited for disappearance of Lesser Floricans are:
· Indigenous tribal hunters regularly shot the males during the breeding season, as they were easy to spot because of their courtship display.
· Crop pattern change, lesser grasslands
· Increase in population of Nilgai (Blue bull)
Major hit: De-notification of Sardarpur Sanctuary
Forest department is working on de-notification of Sardarpur Sanctuary. The sanctuary was notified to conserve the population and provide a breeding centre for Lesser Floricans.
“There is resentment from farmers, as they never received a compensation amount, so that’s the issue,” ornithologist Ajay Gadikar said.
He added that the bird is shy and requires special habitat to breed.
The sighting of Lesser Floricans is down by 87 percent since 2015 in MP.
Lesser Florican is the smallest in the bustard family and the only member of the genus Sypheotides.
One Lesser Florican male was sighted in Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We are keeping a watch for the week,” HS Mohanta, chief conservator of Forest, Indore circle, said. He added that vigilance has been up-scaled and villagers are being apprised of their presence.
“Minimum disturbance could improve on the visitation of more birds,” Mohanta said.
Forest department cheered and is excited to spot at least one Lesser Florican this year. A lot of excitement amongst the staff after the sighting of the bird, as it gives them hope of revival of their habitat.
“The birds come to MP for breeding and usually stay here till October and they fly back South,” Mohanta said.
Forest department recorded just 6 sightings of Lesser Florican in 2020. Further, in 2019, 11 Lesser Floricans were sighted.
The number used to be 48 in the year 2015.
|
Year |
Lesser Florican sightings in MP |
|
2015 |
48 |
|
2016 |
10 |
|
2017 |
02 |
|
2018 |
14 |
|
2019 |
08 |
|
2020 |
06 |
“We are scanning the adjoining areas in Dhar and Jhabua as well where the conservation efforts are being made. Some areas in Jhabua and Dhar are being fenced off to create a habitat for them. They require at least one foot tall grasses for their obscurity. The fenced off sites in the recent years should be the ideal ones. We are trying to scan all such sites for their presence in those.”
HS Mohanta
CCF
Indore circle
Reasons for the smallest bird's threatened status
It is threatened both by hunting and habitat degradation. Some reasons cited for disappearance of Lesser Floricans are:
· Indigenous tribal hunters regularly shot the males during the breeding season, as they were easy to spot because of their courtship display.
· Crop pattern change, lesser grasslands
· Increase in population of Nilgai (Blue bull)
Major hit: De-notification of Sardarpur Sanctuary
Forest department is working on de-notification of Sardarpur Sanctuary. The sanctuary was notified to conserve the population and provide a breeding centre for Lesser Floricans.
“There is resentment from farmers, as they never received a compensation amount, so that’s the issue,” ornithologist Ajay Gadikar said.
He added that the bird is shy and requires special habitat to breed.