Abstract
The Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis is a Critically Endangered bird species. Populations have been monitored in Nepal since 1982, and the most recent study showed a precipitous decline despite the species being mainly confined to protected areas. A systematic survey was conducted in parts of the Koshi area during April and May 2012 by walking transects in known and accessible grasslands. The total of 47 birds counted during this survey represents the largest known population in Nepal, and perhaps the most densely populated area in the entire Indian subcontinent. A crude extrapolation of the count for the entire Koshi area gives an estimate of 60 birds. Several conservation recommendations have been made to ensure florican populations continue to thrive in the KoshiTappu area.
Highlights
The Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis is considered to be one of the rarest bustard species in the world (Hoyo et al 1996), and was at one time described the most threatened bird species in the Indian subcontinent (Inskipp & Collar 1984). It is listed as Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2012). This florican inhabits alluvial grasslands located in India from the Kumaon Terai of Uttar Pradesh ( Uttarakhand) through Bihar and West Bengal to the foothills and plains of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, in the Nepal Terai and in Cambodia and southern Vietnam (Ali & Ripley 1987; BirdLife International 2012)
Poudyal et al (2008) provide the most up to date information on this species from Chitwan, Bardia and Suklaphanta, major Nepal strongholds of the species with an estimate between 28–36 adult birds in Nepal, and more recently several birds have been found in Koshi (Baral et al 2012)
We extended this estimate to the remaining 20% sites that could not be covered assuming that the unsurveyed habitat was inhabited by Bengal Floricans to the same extent as the area that was covered
Summary
The Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis is considered to be one of the rarest bustard species in the world (Hoyo et al 1996), and was at one time described the most threatened bird species in the Indian subcontinent (Inskipp & Collar 1984). It is listed as Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2012). Until recently the Koshi area was largely neglected because of the belief that it held only a small population
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