KATHMANDU, Jan 27: The number of critically endangered bird species in Nepal alarmingly increased to 61 by 2010, according to a report published Sunday.
The number of critically endangered bird species worldwide was 40 till 2004. The report which compiles studies conducted till 2011 also puts the number of endangered species to 38. The total number of endangered species till 2004 was 32. However, a higher number of species were put at the risk of being endangered in 2004. The latest report states that as many as 50 bird species are at the risk of being endangered.
The report is prepared by researchers Hem Sagar Baral, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp and Alison Statterfield.
A total of 867 indigenous bird species have been recorded in Nepal by 2010 end. This is eight percent of the total bird species found across the world.
Likewise, an additional 16 species are considered “nationally threatened” compared with the 2004 assessment of 133 threatened species. When all species regularly occurring in Nepal are considered, 474 species (59 percent) inhabit forests, 184 (23percent) cultivation, 115 (14percent) wetlands, 100 (13percent) grasslands, 101 (13percent scrub), 75 (9percent) open country, 30 (4%) near human habitation and 19 (2 percent) in semi-desert.
Pressures on Nepal´s birds have been categorized as effects of habitat loss. The study claims that a total of 128 species of birds are at varying degrees of risk due human destruction of their natural habitats. Use of pesticides and fertilizers in farming that remained a menace for birds in 2004, yet remains unchecked, according to the report.
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