The last flight
INDIAN ornithologists are a worried lot these days. The departure of four Siberian cranes - before satellite transmitters could be fixed on them to monitor their return journey - is only one of their concerns (Down To Earth, Vol 4, No 23). The number of these rare visitors has been steadily dwindling over the years. While much hue and cry has been raised about this, a large number of other species are also trudging towards extinction and very less is known about them.
Three Indian bird species - the pink-headed duck, the mountain quail and the forest spotted owlet - may have disappeared from the face of the earth. The chances of finding any surviving members of these species are remote, says environmentalist Ashish Kothari in a recently published study on the future of India's avifauna. Experts have identified 103 species that are facing extinction. Loss of habitat, hunting, over-exploitation and trade have contributed to the situation.
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