Kaziranga Rapid Survey Finds 30 Raptor, 6 Stork Species
Why in the news
A quick bird count inside Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam turned up many birds of prey and storks, underlining the park’s value as a bird refuge.
Key facts
- Count: 30 raptor species and 6 stork species.
- Period: last week of February to 2 March 2026; team of 10 members plus Gauhati University researchers.
- Results released on World Environment Day, 5 June 2026.
- Notable birds: Pallas’s fish eagle and the greater adjutant stork.
About Kaziranga
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| State and landscape | Assam, Brahmaputra floodplains |
| Districts | Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Karbi Anglong |
| National Park | 1974 |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | 1985 |
| Tiger Reserve | 2006 |
- Shelters about two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).
- Other wildlife: elephants, tigers, Asiatic water buffalo, hog and swamp deer, Gangetic dolphins and pythons.
Raptors and storks
- Raptors (birds of prey) hunt other animals using talons, beaks and strong flight; examples are eagles, hawks, falcons, kites, vultures, harriers, buzzards and owls.
- They are top predators and signs of ecosystem health; falling numbers, especially of vultures, point to habitat loss, poisoning, electrocution or food-chain contamination.
- Storks are large, long-legged wading birds of wetlands and grasslands and indicate wetland health.
- The greater adjutant stork (Hargila) is IUCN-listed Endangered, mostly found in Assam, with big colonies at Boragaon and Dadara near Guwahati.
Significance
- The broader Kaziranga landscape hosts about 50 of India’s 112 raptor species.
- Large vulture groups such as the Himalayan Griffon signal a healthy ecosystem with enough carrion.
Exam angle
- Park location: Assam; river: Brahmaputra.
- Hargila status: Endangered (IUCN).
- Survey data released on 5 June, World Environment Day.