‘Highest number of wetland species in Kaziranga’

Context

• Kaziranga recorded 96 species of wetland birds — one of the highest for wildlife reserves in India, according to the second wetland bird count conducted recently.

Key-highlights of the Survey:

• The survey registered a total of 19,225 birds belonging to 96 species under 80 families. It covered four ranges of the park:
  • Agoratoli
  • Bagori
  • Kohora
  • Burapahar
• More than half the birds (9,924) and 85 of the 96 species were recorded in Agoratoli Range. This was because Sohola, the largest of Kaziranga's 92 perennial wetlands, is in this range.
• With 6,181 individuals, the bar-headed goose led the species count, followed by the common teal at 1,557 and northern pintail at 1,359. All three belong to the family 
• The other species with sizeable numbers include gadwall, common coot, lesser whistling duck, Indian spot-billed duck, little cormorant, ferruginous duck, tufted duck, Eurasian wigeon, Asian openbill, northern lapwing, ruddy shelduck and spot-billed pelican.

Background:

• The first wetland bird survey in Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, was conducted in 2018.
• The first waterfowl census in 2018 had yielded 10,412 birds covering 80 species, belonging to 21 families.

What are the Wetlands?

• Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season.
• The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other landforms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil.
• Wetlands play a number of ecological functions, such as water purification, water storage, processing of carbon and other nutrients, stabilization of shorelines, and support of plants and animals.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:

• The Conventionon Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• It is the only global treaty that focuses specifically on wetlands. 
• The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
• At present, there are 27 Ramsar Wetlands Sites in India:

 Quick facts on Kaziranga National Park:

• Important species: Kaziranga National Park a world heritage site is famous for the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Besides rhinoceros, it is inhabited by tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.
• Location: It is located fairly in the Golaghat and Nagaon regions of Assam in India and also placed beside the Brahmaputra River on the North and the Karbi Anglong mounts on South India. Kaziranga National Park is the abode of 37 highways which is passed through the park.
• It has been declared as National Park in 1974. It has been declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
• Legal protection: The property receives the highest legal protection and strong legislative framework under the provisions of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Indian Forest Act, 1927/Assam Forest Regulation 1891.