First Assamese Book on Assam’s State Bird Conservation

The first comprehensive Assamese-language book on the State’s rare and threatened birds, Axomor Dusprapya Sorai (Assam’s Rare and Threatened Birds), has been released to strengthen biodiversity awareness and bird conservation.

Key Highlights

• The book Axomor Dusprapya Sorai has been authored by noted bird experts Firoz Hussain and Kabir Saikia.
• The publication was formally released by eminent ornithologist Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhury, along with other distinguished personalities from the fields of media, education and conservation.
• Assam’s Education Minister also released the book, describing it as an important step towards promoting bird conservation and creating awareness about Assam’s rich avian heritage.
• The book is the first comprehensive Assamese-language publication dedicated exclusively to the rare, threatened and endangered bird species of Assam.
• It documents birds found across forests, wetlands, grasslands, riverine ecosystems and hill habitats, providing information on identification, habitat, distribution, behaviour, conservation status and major threats.
• The publication is richly illustrated with high-quality photographs, making it a valuable resource for students, researchers, birdwatchers, forest officials and nature enthusiasts.
• The primary objective of the book is to encourage public participation in biodiversity conservation by making scientific information accessible in the Assamese language.

Why is it important?

• Assam is one of India’s richest biodiversity hotspots, hosting over 900 bird species, including several globally threatened and endemic species.
• The publication supports the objectives of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan, which emphasise biodiversity documentation, conservation awareness and community participation.
• Publishing conservation literature in regional languages improves scientific outreach and strengthens citizen-led conservation efforts.

About White-winged Wood Duck

• It is called ‘Deo Hah’ (Asarcornis scutulata) in Assamese, because of its ghost-like call.
• The adult White-winged Wood Duck is identified by its dark body which sharply contrasts with its whitish head and neck.
• The bird usually appears in pairs and the male bird is quite larger than the female and has comparatively fewer dark spots on its neck.
• This non-migratory bird forages in small forest pools and the slow-flowing forest streams adjacent to the tropical moist and swamp forests.
• They primarily inhabit the dense forests and secluded water bodies of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• They were once widely distributed in northeast India and Southeast Asia. But its population has drastically declined in recent times.
• In India, the duck is only found in the northeastern part of the country in eastern Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• The key protected areas include Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Dihing-Patkai National Park, Nameri National Park, and Namdapha National Park.
• Dibru-Saikhowa NP was originally created to help conserve the habitat of the white-winged wood duck.
• Threats: They are threatened due to hunting, egg/duckling poaching and habitat loss caused by the destruction of lowland tropical forests.
• These threats have led to a small and fragmented population, with an estimated c. 50-150 individuals in India.

Conservation

• Critically Endangered: IUCN Red List (as per the assessment of BirdLife International in 2024)
• Schedule I: Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• Appendix I: CITES
• In 2003, the Government of Assam declared White-winged Duck as the “State Bird of Assam” to encourage further conservation efforts.

Exam Hook (Prelims)

Q. Which one of the following bird species is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is found in Assam?

1. Greater Adjutant Stork
2. Sarus Crane
3. Indian Peafowl
4. Black-necked Crane

Answer: (a)

One-line Wrap

The release of Axomor Dusprapya Sorai marks an important milestone in promoting biodiversity awareness, scientific documentation and bird conservation through regional-language knowledge resources in Assam.