IUCN Report:14 Species of Birds from India on the Verge of Extinction

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) on 10 November 2011 released the red List of threatened species, which includes 14 species of birds from India. These birds are critically endangered.  The endangered birds include, Indian Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Pink-headed Duck, Sociable Lapwing, Jerdon's Courser, Siberian Crane, White-belled Heron, Christmas Frigatebird, Bengal Florican, Forest Owlet, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Himalayan Quail, White-rumped Vulture.

The major threats faced by these bird species include poaching, habitual destruction, indiscriminate use of pesticides and chemicals harmful for birds. However, the national bird peacock is not under the threat of extinction.

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 has provision for stringent punishments for those who violates the provisions of the act. Moreover, the government has set up Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to curb the illegal trade in wildlife.

The IUCN Red List is critical as an indicator of the health of biodiversity, in identifying conservation needs and informing necessary changes in policy and legislation to drive conservation forward. IUCN was founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organisation.