Forestry officials of Lhamoizingkha Range Office has sighted and documented a lone White-bellied Heron (WBH) – π΄ππππ πππ πππππ at Kumartar, Karmaling under Dagana Divisional Forest Office. This is in the backdrop of dwindling WBH habitat in other areas due to various anthropogenic factors.It is reported that the bird was sighted during the field visit. Officials spotted the bird feeding in shallow river of Sunkosh. Although reported by the local communities earlier, no photographic evidence was captured. The photographic evidence points out that the bird is evidently foraging in the area.
Officials said that it is difficult to ascertain but they believe it is a residential bird. People have reported sighting it in several occasions. Although it is difficult to determine the sex and age, the bird is believed to be an adult.
It is encouraging to sight the bird outside of the known and reported areas especially due to the fact that it is the rarest and the most critically endangered heron in the world. With fewer than 60 left in the world, Bhutan however host 45% of the global population. From the five breeding pairs known, here again, Bhutan has 90% of reported breeding birds.
Proper management of habitat is expected to help enhance the WBH conservation in Dagana.
