CPREEC - EIACP Programme Centre, Resource Partner on Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India

Dehradun: Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has discovered new breeding sites for the Indian Skimmer bird species in Allahabad. In India, the National Chambal Sanctuarywas believed to be the only breeding ground for this gregarious but declining species. It is a legally protected species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; however, despite of this, the population is declining rapidly due to habitat loss and degradation. 

According to WII scientist SA Hussain, the Indian skimmer is a riverine bird that belonging to the family Laridae and listed as vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation of Nature Red List. " One of the our researcher Kumar Ankit, working with the National Mission for Clean Ganga- Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation project for his dissertation work has discovered new breeding sites for the Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis)." 

He said, the first nesting site was identified in the west of the Phaphamau Bridge upstream of Ganga River in Allahabad. The second site was identified on east of the Phaphamau Bridge at north of the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna rivers. 

WII team is working on this project which is an initiative of the ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation through its Namami Gange programme. 

"District Magistrate of Allahabad Sanjay Kumar has assured full support in terms of protection of nesting islands against human interference. He has instructed the Forest department staff to keep a vigilant eye on the newly discovered nesting sites. The presence of such large nesting site perhaps suggests that this birds are coming back to Ganga River due to intensive efforts made by ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation to restore its lost biodiversity through their Namami Gange programme," said Hussain.

Source:  The Times of India