In Pobitora sanctuary, Bird count dips, but two new species observed

A forest official reports that while Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has seen a decrease in the number of individual birds, two new species were discovered during the waterbird census.

7,225 birds were counted during Friday’s census, down from 8,441 during the previous count in 2022–2023.

The number of species identified this year was 72, an increase from 70 in the last count, said sanctuary ranger Nayan Jyoti Das.

He said that the larger white-fronted goose and the Baikal teal are the two new species that have been seen in the sanctuary for the first time.