White-Bellied Heron

White-Bellied Heron Latest News

A recently submitted proposal for Arunachal Pradesh’s Kalai-II hydel project skips mentioning the habitat of the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron. 

About White-Bellied Heron

• The white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis ) is a large heron species. It is the second largest living species of heron.
• Other Names: It is also known as the imperial heron or great white-bellied heron.
• Habitat: It inhabits the wetlands of tropical and subtropical forests in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.
• Distribution: It is mainly living in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in northeast India and Bhutan to northern Myanmar.
• Morphological Adaptations

• • It is a slightly longer neck and compact body with shorter legs and extensive toes.
  • The extra elongated, flexible neck with razorsharp serrated bill allows them to catch fish far in deep waters.
• Diet: It prefers free-flowing riverine habitats with low disturbance, and predominantly depends on fish found in the river rapids.
• Biological Role: Its presence in our ecosystem indicates the health of the rivers, the environment, the fish population, and water quality.
• Threats: It is threatened by habitat loss, increasing disturbance and habitat degradation due to conversion of wetlands for agriculture and expansion of settlements.

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Conservation Status of White-Bellied Heron

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule-I.

Source: IE