Migratory duck, geese population dwindles in Manipur’s Loktak

Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) blamed heavy human pressure for the dwindling migratory duck and geese population in the largest freshwater lake in northeast India

The number of migratory ducks and geese dwindled in Manipur’s Loktak due to heavy human pressure except in a few pockets of the largest freshwater lake in northeast India and Keibul Lamjao, the world’s only floating National Park, Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) has said.

The migratory birds would spend three-four winter months in Loktak. (HT Photo/ Kh Brajesh)

“But the real picture of the total population will come after two or three days,” said IBCN state coordinator RK Birjit. “The population of resident species lesser whistling duck and migratory waterbird Eurasian coot locally known as ucheck porom are stable and they are the most abundant waterbirds in Loktak.”

IBCN has coordinated the Loktak waterbird census over the last 15 years as a part of the Asian waterbird count under Mumbai’s Bombay Natural History Society, Birdlife International, and Wetland International. On Sunday, it conducted the bird census with other stakeholders at 50 different counting sites in Loktak Lake.

The migratory birds would spend three-four winter months at Loktak, including 40 square km of Keibul Lamjao National Park. The park is dotted with floating biomass that sustains species including the rare sangai or brow-antlered deer, Manipur’s state animal.

As many as 50,725 waterbirds including migratory ones belonging to 65 species visited Loktak in 2015. In 2014, 32,852 waterbirds belonging to 57 species did so.

The 236.21 square km Loktakhas has faced encroachment, overfishing, etc. A wetland is considered internationally important if it supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

Some of the rare migratory waterbirds such as common shelduck and ruddy shelduck, which have their breeding grounds in the Euro-Siberian region and central Asia, were sighted in the Yaralpat wetland in Imphal East district on Thursday.

The wetland was among the selected seven wetlands of Manipur for conservation efforts.