ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA RELEASED BIRDS OF THE SUNDARBAN BIOSPHERE RESERVE

ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA RELEASED  BIRDS OF THE SUNDARBAN BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Context

The Zoological Survey of India, founded on 1 July 1916 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Government of India) released the publication, Birds of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.

Report Findings:

• The scientists found that there are 428 bird species Sundarbans out of which masked finfoot and the Buffy fish owl, are recorded only from the Sunderbans.
• The area is home to 9 out of 12 species of kingfishers found in India.
• It is also home to rare species such as the Goliath heron and the spoon-billed sandpiper.

About Indian Sundarbans:

• It covers 4,200 sq. km and includes the Sunderban Tiger Reserve of 2,585 sq. km — home to about 96 royal Bengal tigers (as per the last census in 2020).
• It is a world heritage site and a Ramsar site (a wetland site designated to be of international importance).
• It is also home to a large number of “rare and globally threatened species, such as the critically endangered northern river terrapin (Batagur baska), the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), and the vulnerable fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus).”
• Two of the world’s four horseshoe crab species, and eight of India’s 12 species of kingfisher are also found here. Recent studies claim that the Indian Sundarban is home to 2,626 faunal species and 90% of the country’s mangrove varieties.