25,660 waterbirds of 82 species have been found in the park's Shikari Lake, Rani Lake, the coastal area of the Mahakali River, and lakes outside the park, including Puraini Lake and Banda.
What you should know
The number of waterfowl has increased this time in Shuklaphanta National Park and surrounding areas. More than 25,000 waterfowl were found in the park, the buffer zone and the surrounding lowlands and rivers.
According to Hirulal Dagoura, an ornithologist at the Nepal Bird Conservation Association, 25,660 waterbirds of 82 species have been found in the park's Shikari Lake, Rani Lake, the coastal area of the Mahakali River, and lakes outside the park, including Puraini Lake and Banda. 'The number of waterbirds has increased slightly this year compared to last year,' Dagoura said. 'The highest number of birds were found in Shikari Lake and Puraini Lake.' According to him, around 22,000 waterbirds were found in last year's census.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Nepal, Nepal Bird Conservation Association, Buffer Zone Management Committee, Nature Guide Association, Ranatharu Homestay Kanchanpur Bird Conservation Group and Nepal Birdwatchers Association jointly conducted the waterbird census along with Shuklaphanta National Park.
Siberian birds migrate from October to escape the cold. Ornithologist Dagoura says that birds stay here from October to March. According to him, the count was conducted from January 3 to 8. ‘The number of waterfowl is increasing due to the good condition of lakes and rivers,’ said Vinay Jha, Conservation Officer of Shuklaphanta National Park. ‘The number of waterfowl migrating seasonally has increased, and it must be assumed that the habitat and food are good.’ According to him, the condition of the park and the surrounding lakes is good for birds.
However, Dagoura says that due to the low water level in the Mahakali River, there have been fewer waterfowl in the coastal areas this year. According to him, the number of birds has also been reduced in Banda Lake due to the covering of the water surface by the species of the species of the species. Along with the species of the species, the lakes inside and outside the park are shrinking due to erosion.
