FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Avian diversity in peril but hopeful signs emerging

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4717070.stm

 Last Updated: Wednesday, 15 February 2006, 18:13 GMT  

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Ray of hope for endangered bird  
By Omer Farooq 
BBC News, Hyderabad  

**There may only be 25 of the small wading birds left in the world**

The only known habitat of India's rarest bird may yet be saved from
destruction in a last-minute effort to re-route an irrigation canal. 

The Andhra Pradesh government in southern India has asked the Bombay
Natural History Society (BNHS) to submit a report with alternative routes
for the Telugu Ganga canal. 

The elusive Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) was thought extinct
in 1900, but was dramatically rediscovered in 1985 in the forest area of
the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. 

Building work for the canal is currently on hold and the government
committee will meet again on 8 March. 

There may be only 25 of the small wading birds left, with most found in the
Sri Lankamalleswara wildlife sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh. 

'Serious peril' 

The irrigation department's plans to lay the canal through the sanctuary
have angered wildlife conservationists. 

The Jerdon's courser is probably more endangered than the tiger or
rhinoceros Dr Asad Rahmani, Bombay Natural History Society.

They warn if the canal is built in the area, it will place the courser in
serious peril. 

The four-member committee constituted by Andhra Pradesh's Supreme Court met
wildlife experts and state government officials in Hyderabad on Tuesday to
hear the complaints against the canal. 

It now looks like there might be a last-minute ray of hope for the Jerdon's
courser if the BNHS can come up with a suitable new route. 

According to one of the BNHS researchers, Dr Jaganathan, the organisation
had suggested an alternate route during the meeting. 

But the officials told him the route was not feasible for the government. 

Jaganathan said a solution acceptable to all sides would now have to be
found. 

'Unnecessary burden' 

Construction of the canal is well advanced, but work was halted late last
year when conservationists realised the extent of the danger facing the
courser. 
 
Few people alive today have seen the Jerdon's courser.  The issue has
evoked keen international interest from the bird watchers and wildlife
conservationists, including the UK's Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds, which has said the courser's extinction would be a tragic and
unnecessary burden for Indian authorities to bear. 

The BNHS and RSPB have said shifting the canal's path at least a mile from
the sanctuary boundary would be enough to prevent building work affecting
the bird. 

Dr Asad Rahmani, director of Bombay Natural History Society, said: "The
Jerdon's courser is probably more endangered than the tiger or rhinoceros
and every effort should be made to protect its habitat, even if that means
changing the whole irrigation plan. 

"It is only found in a 20 square kilometre area in and around Sri
Lankamalleswara sanctuary, and if we lose this area we will be saying
goodbye to the species for good." 

 
 

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