Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauds people of Kaziranga National Park for rise in water birds count in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode

News update:  Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi in his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat Episode on Sunday praised the people of Kaziranga Assam for the rise in number of waterfowls.

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve Authority has been carrying out its Annual waterfowls census for some time.

The second waterfowl census, 2020 was conducted in the wetlands of Kaziranga National Park that lasts for two days. The team of total 24 bird expert enumerators and 35 volunteers coming from various organizations conducted this census. Approximately 41 different points were traced comprised of various water bodies inside the National park for the census. According to data released by District forest officer, a total of 21 major water bodies of the national park were included in the survey.

In the tow-day long survey, a total of 19,225 birds were counted in the national park.  Covering a total of 96 species belonging to 24 families. Out of the total counted birds, Bar-headed Geese that belongs to the Anatidae family counted for 6,181, followed by 1,557 numbers of Common Teal and 1,359 numbers of Northern Pintail, 1,233 numbers of Gadwall, 928 common coots, 825 lesser whistling ducks and others.

According to the avifauna experts, the data of the census is quite encouraging as the population of the wetland birds is reflecting rising trend in the national park.

The first waterfowl census was conducted in 2018 from December 19 to December to 20 had yielded 10,412 birds covering 80 families from 21 families.