Now Reading: Storm kills 62 Asian Openbill storks in Jorhat nesting colony
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Storm kills 62 Asian Openbill storks in Jorhat nesting colony
A severe storm in Jorhat on 24 August killed at least 62 Asian Openbill storks and injured 68 others at a long-established nesting colony along DCB Road. The Forest Department collected the…
A severe storm in Jorhat on 24 August killed at least 62 Asian Openbill storks and injured 68 others at a long-established nesting colony along DCB Road. The Forest Department collected the carcasses and rescued the injured birds, which will be treated at Panbari and later released in Kaziranga National Park.
Most of the dead birds were chicks, the ranger said, noting that more than 10 Asian Openbills had died at the same site in the previous week. A local resident reported that over 200 birds fell onto the road during the storm. The tree-lined road had for years been a familiar habitat for the storks.
The deaths have distressed the local community, who were accustomed to the birds' presence. The incident has also raised concerns about the vulnerability of the nesting site to extreme weather and the need for its protection.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Asian Openbill is not a threatened species globally, but it is protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act, making the killing or injury of 130 birds a legally notable event. Jorhat's urban trees have become critical nesting sites as wetlands shrink, yet these trees are often along roads and vulnerable to sudden storms during the monsoon. The colony's destruction highlights a recurring tension: fast-growing towns offer nesting trees but also risks from traffic, construction and weather. The Forest Department's plan to release recovered birds in Kaziranga suggests a relocation strategy that may not protect future nesting attempts. Watch for whether the department declares the colony site a protected micro-habitat or merely monitors the surviving birds' return next season.
Source: assamtribune.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
